How come the disciples couldn't recognize Jesus after His Resurrection?

Answer 1

God didn't want the disciples to immediately recognize Jesus, so He hid it from them. He can do anything - including blocking the disciples' minds from recognizing Him.

---- ANOTHER ANSWER

What was said above is quite true [for example, Jesus walking through the midst of the mob who wanted to throw Him over the cliff at Nazareth], but do not spiritualize it away. The real reason is also the simplest: He was beaten to a pulp and was unrecognizable.

For example, look at Isa 52:14 :-

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (King James )

The 'King James' translation does not carry the same impact as more modern translations:-

Many were horrified at what happened to him. But everyone who saw him was even more horrified because he suffered until he no longer looked human. (CEV )

Many people were shocked when they saw him; he was so disfigured that he hardly looked human. (Good News)

Read the following article for more information:-

http://www.khouseafrica.com/aticles%20org/2005/573/index.html

http://khouse.org/articles/1999/52/print/

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Answer 2

A point that modern theologians and scholars discuss is that throughout Mark's Gospel the disciples seem not to understand. However, this is not strictly the case. One section of the gospel, Mark 6:33-8:21, consists of a closely linked set of miracles and discourses in which the disciples consistently fail to understand Jesus. At least ten of these passages also contain references to food:

• Jesus and the disciples had no leisure so much as to eat, so they went into a desert place
• Feeding the 5000
• When Jesus walked on water the disciples were amazed, for they considered not the miracle of the loaves
• Pharisees complain about the disciples eating with unwashed hands
• Discourse - what goes into a man goes into his belly and does not defile
• Jesus tells the Greek woman that he must first feed the children (the Jews), to which she metaphorically begs for crumbs from the table
• Feeding the 4000
• Disciples are hungry and have only one loaf of bread
• Jesus warns the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and they reason, "It is because we have no bread," showing they do not understand
• Summary by Jesus of the two feasts, asking, "How is it that ye do not understand?"

The frustration displayed by Jesus in verse 8:21 is not just because the disciples failed to understand the miracles of the two feasts, but because they had failed to understand anything he did or said from the time of the feeding of the 5000. For example, when Jesus walked on water immediately after that feast, the disciples were amazed, 'for they considered not the miracle of the loaves'. This looks back to the first feeding of the thousands and forwards to the summary by Jesus.
It is in this section of Mark's Gospel that the disciples display their frustrating lack of understanding. The reason for this is that Mark's Gospel consists of a parallel structure that links these events and the disciples' lack of understanding to the Last Supper, so that the reader realises by context and association that the disciples still do not understand what is happening around them:

A . John explains the coming of Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)

B .The baptism of Jesus (1:9)

C . The voice of God from heaven, "Thou art my beloved son" (1:11)

D . The forty days in the wilderness as an allusion to Elijah and Moses (1:13)

E . The people were astonished at what Jesus taught (1:22)

F . Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (1:23-26)

G . Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians how they might destroy Jesus (3:6)

H . Demons, whenever they see Jesus, fall down and say that he is the Son of God.

-- Jesus commands that they tell no one of this (3:11-12)

I .. Jesus calls the 12 disciples (3:13-19)

J .. Jesus rejects his own family: he has a new family, his followers (3:31-35)

K . Jesus rebukes the wind (4:36-41)

L . The demoniac, wearing no clothes (5:15), cries out that Jesus not torment him and Jesus sends out the demons (5:1-20)

M . Jesus comes into his own country (6:1)
-- Where he was brought up

N . The people misunderstand Jesus and he can do no mighty work (6:2-6)

O . Jesus sends out the disciples and curses those who will not receive them (6:7-11)
-- in sending the disciples with authority and expecting all to receive them, Jesus is asserting his own authority

P . Herod thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead (6:14)

Q . Herodias and her daughter conspire to kill John the Baptist (6:16-29)

R . Feeding the thousands, and related miracles and discourses (6:33-8:21)

S . Who do people say that I am (8:27)

T . Peter affirms faith in Jesus as the Christ (8:29)

U . Whosoever shall be ashamed of me: of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed (8:38)

V . The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes (8:31a)

W . Be killed and after three days rise again (8:31b)

X . Prophecy of second coming (9:1)- Jesus tells the disciples that some of them would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God coming with power.

B' .The Transfiguration of Jesus (9:2-3)

C' .The voice of God from heaven, "This is my beloved son" (9:7)

D' . Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses then to the disciples about Elijah (9:4-13)

E' .A great multitude was amazed at Jesus (9:15)

F' .Jesus cast out a dumb spirit (9:17-27)

G' .They shall kill the Son of man and he shall rise on the third day (9:31)

H' .Jesus clarifies his divine status, saying that he is not God: "Why call me good? There is none good but God" (10:18)

I' . Peter says the disciples have left all and followed Jesus (10:28)

J' . Those who have left their family for Jesus have a new family: all Jesus' followers (10:29-30)

K'. Jesus rebukes the 'sons of thunder', James and John (10:35-45 - cf 3:17)

L' .Blind Bartimaeus cries out for mercy and casts off his clothes, then Jesus heals him (10:46-52)

M' .Jesus comes into Jerusalem (11:1-10)
-- Where he will die

N' .Jesus misunderstands the fig tree that can provide no fruit (11:13-14)

O' .Jesus casts out them that sold and bought in the Temple and curses them for making the Temple a den of thieves (11:15-17)
-- Jesus is asserting his authority

P' .Jesus asks whether the baptism of John is from heaven or of men, and the priests, scribes and elders can not answer (11:30-33)

Q' .Parable of husbandmen who conspire to kill the vineyard owner's son (12:1-9)

X' .Prophecy of second coming (chapter 13)

-- on clouds of glory, within the lifetimes of some of those to whom he was speaking

R' .The Last Supper (14:17-25)

S' .Art thou the Christ, Son of God (14:61)

T' .Peter denies Jesus three times (14:66-72a)

U' .And when he thought thereon, Peter wept (14:72b)

V' .The chief priests, elders and scribes delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate (15:1)

-- Delivering Jesus is a similar concept to rejecting him.
-- Both parts of the pair involve chief priests, elders and scribes

W' .Jesus dies and on the third day rises again (15:37, 16:6)

A' .The young man explains the departure of Jesus(16:6-8)

Answer 3

There are various theories as to why the disciples didn't recognize Jesus immediately. Some suggest that Jesus' appearance may have been different post-resurrection. Additionally, their grief, disbelief, and astonishment may have clouded their ability to see and recognize Him clearly. Finally, it is also said that Jesus may have concealed His identity temporarily for a specific purpose.