The Bible states that various people did not recognize Jesus after His resurrection, despite spending considerable time with Him during His earthly ministry. Those individuals were Mary Magdalene, Cleopas (and another disciple), and Thomas.
The Bible says of Mary Magdalene in John 20:14-15, “When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’”
Scripture provides no direct clues as to why Mary did not recognize Jesus on the morning of His resurrection. Perhaps she was suffering such profound grief over His death a few days earlier that her overwhelming sorrow blinded her from recognizing Jesus. Or maybe Mary was so distraught and consumed by the idea that Jesus’ body had been moved that, in her desperation to find Him, she did not notice who spoke to her and assumed it was the gardener. It is also possible that Mary did not recognize Jesus because it was still dark when she visited the tomb. Or perhaps it was none of the above, a combination of them, or a different reason altogether. Regardless, the Bible does not disclose the exact reason(s); therefore, these suggestions are strictly speculation.
The Bible says regarding Cleopas and the other disciple in Luke 24:13-16, “And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.”
Unlike Mary Magdalene, the Bible gives at least one clear reason why these two men did not recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus: Jesus appeared to them in a different form. Mark 16:12 says, “After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.”
It might seem odd that Jesus intentionally disguised Himself from Cleopas and the other disciple, preventing them from recognizing Him. However, Luke’s gospel offers some insight into why this may have occurred.
First, Luke recorded that both men told their unknown walking companion (Jesus) that Jesus the Nazarene was a mighty prophet who had been crucified (see Luke 24:19-20). Second, Cleopas and the other disciple told Him that they hoped this Jesus would redeem Israel as promised, but they had lost hope, since it had been three days since His death (see Luke 24:21). Third, the men disclosed that some women found the tomb empty that morning and were told by angels that Jesus had risen, but nobody had seen Jesus the Nazarene alive (see Luke 24:22-24).
Considering these men’s misguided belief that Jesus was a prophet who would redeem Israel rather than the Son of God who would redeem all humanity from their sins, and in light of the fact that the tomb was verified as empty that morning, perhaps Jesus hid His identity to gently rebuke Cleopas and the other disciple for not believing what Moses and the prophets wrote about Him in the Old Testament (see Luke 24:25-27). Also, He may have disguised Himself to redirect their faith in “Jesus the Nazarene” to Jesus the Christ, who had to suffer, die, and be raised in glory, so they would fully put their faith in Him once He opened their eyes and revealed Himself (see Luke 24:28-48).
The Bible says regarding Thomas in John 20:24-29, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed.’”
Similar to Cleopas and the other disciple, Thomas did not immediately recognize Jesus upon seeing Him because of his unbelief and hardened heart (see Mark 16:14). As such, Thomas needed to see and touch Jesus’ nail-scarred hands and pierced side before he would accept that the Man standing before him was truly Jesus risen from the grave.
I hope this brief synopsis helps you understand a few possible reasons why certain individuals did not recognize Jesus after His resurrection, despite spending considerable time with Him during His earthly ministry.
