Did Jesus show himself to non-believers after the resurrection?

Answer 1

In Matthew's Gospel, the risen Jesus showed himself to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and then to the disciples in a mountain in Galilee. It does not appear that he was seen by non-believers.

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus showed himself to Cleopas and another on the road to Emmaeus, and then to the eleven disciples in a room in Jerusalem. He then took the disciples out towards Bethany, where he was taken up bodily to heaven on the evening of his resurrection. In this account, it is unlikely that he was seen by non-believers.

Acts of the Apostles, by the same author, but written some time later, says that Jesus was seen by the apostles and other believers for forty days and was then taken up bodily to heaven. This was a longer period on earth, giving opportunities for him to be seen by non-believers, but Acts does not suggest this, emphasising the faithful to whom it says he appeared.

In John's Gospel, Jesus showed himself to Mary Magdalene, then to ten of the disciples in a room in Jerusalem, and eight days later to all eleven disciples in the room in Jerusalem, and later to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. This was also a longer period on earth, giving opportunities for him to be seen by non-believers, but John does not suggest this.

Mark's Gospel was the original gospel account, and originally ended at verse 16:8, with the young man saying that Jesus was risen and the women ran off in terror, telling no one; the "Long Ending" (verses 16:9-25) were added much later, to provide the necessary evidence of the risen Jesus. So, in the original of the Gospel, Jesus was certainly not seen by non-believers. In the "Long Ending" there is no suggestion that he could have been seen by non-believers.