Beth Moore did it again!!! I always think she’s going to start a series by jumping right into the text. She does an excellent job of asking the questions that we never think of. Then she answers them in a way that makes you realize that only by searching the scriptures with tenacity, can you gain insight and depth. She actually started with this verse and led into these other verses too.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sinsaccording to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. – I Corinthians 15:5-8
For even his own brothers did not believe in him. – John 7:5
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” – Mark 3:20-21
The core of what Beth got across in this video is that even Jesus’ family were unbelievers. They spent much of their time dissuading him from his calling and even his own mother asked him to perform miracles “before his time.”
When Jesus rose, it said that he appeared to certain people. One of which was Peter and she said that was to personally restore him because of his public denial. We read in another account that he appeared to Mary Magdalene personally and we have a detailed account of that interaction. We also have a detailed account of the vision that Saul, “the persecutor” had on the road to Damascus. But in I Corinthians it also claims that he appeared to James. Why would he appear specifically to James?
Beth makes the claim that it was necessary to “fetch” James, and possibly the rest of his family, from their unbelief. Because Jesus cared for his earthly family like a son should, it was necessary to give them hope and a future. Jesus has made a change in my life for the exact same reason. He will appear to you when you need him most.