Jesus' Sixteenth Appearance 

On the evening of Friday, May 5, 30 CE, the believers in Jerusalem made their first attempt to get together since the resurrection in the courtyard of Nicodemus. Present were the eleven apostles, the women’s corps and their associates, and about fifty other leading disciples, including many of the Greeks. This group had been talking with one another informally for over half an hour when Jesus appeared to them in full view.

Jesus began with a reminder of what he had foretold, “Peace be upon you” and then continued. "This is the most diverse group of believers – apostles and disciples, men and women – to whom I have appeared since my deliverance from the flesh. I now call you to witness that I told you beforehand that my time among you would come to an end, and that I would soon return to the Father. And then I plainly told you that the chief priests and Jewish rulers would deliver me up to be executed, and that I would rise from the dead. So, why did you allow yourself to be so disturbed by all of this when it occurred? Why were you surprised when I rose from the tomb on the third day? You didn't believe me because you heard my words without comprehending the meaning."

Jesus then revealed the purpose of his life on earth and its saving message, "And now you should listen to my words lest you repeat the mistake of hearing my teaching with your mind while failing to understand the meaning in your hearts. From the beginning of my time among you, I taught you that my sole purpose was to reveal my Father in heaven to his children on earth. I have lived the God-revealing bestowal so that you might have a God-knowing career. I have revealed God as your Father in heaven, and you as God's children on earth. It is true that God loves you. By believing in my word, this fact becomes an eternal and living truth in your hearts. When you become divinely God-conscious through living faith, you are born of the spirit as children of light and life, even eternal life, with which you will ascend the universe of universes and have the experience of finding God, the Father in Paradise."

Jesus then concluded by telling his believers what they should do next: "I admonish you to never forget that your mission among others is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom – the reality of God's fatherhood and the truth of the divine kinship of mortals. Proclaim the full extent of the good news, not just a portion of the saving gospel. My experience with resurrection has no bearing on your message. Relationship with God through faith remains the saving truth of the kingdom gospel. You are to preach God's love and the service of humankind. The most important thing the world needs to know is that all are God's children, and through faith, they can realize and experience this empowering truth daily. My bestowal should help all understand that they are God's children, but this knowledge will be insufficient if they do not personally believe the saving truth that they are the living spirit children of the eternal Father. The gospel of the kingdom is about the Father's love and the service of his earthly children.

You are all aware that I have risen from the dead, but that is not strange. I have the power to lay down my life and pick it up again; the Father grants this power to his Paradise Sons. You should be moved in your hearts to know that the dead of an age entered the eternal ascent shortly after I left Joseph's new tomb. I lived my life in the flesh to demonstrate how you can reveal God to others through loving service, just as I have revealed God to you through loving and serving you. I have lived among you as the Son of Man so that you and all others may know that you are indeed God's children. As a result, go out into the entire world and preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to everyone. Love all people as I have loved you, and serve others as I have served you. You have freely received; now freely give. Only remain here in Jerusalem while I go to the Father and send you the Spirit of Truth. He will lead you into the enlarged truth, and I will accompany you throughout the world. I am always with you, and I will leave my peace with you."

When the Master had finished speaking to them, he vanished from their sight.

It wasn’t until daybreak that these believers went to their homes. They were up all night reflecting on what Jesus had said, while the apostles also shared their experiences with what Jesus had told them during three other resurrection appearances.