But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. (v. 4)

But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. (Luke 24:16)

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.” (John 20:15)

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

We know that Jesus Christ truly resurrected because the disciples and the women could not find his dead body. And they saw Him alive. But we need to understand that the disciples did not recognize Jesus Christ because of his physical body but of His words and power. And they recognized Him only when God made them recognize Him.

I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5)

As I grew up in the Roman Catholic church, I became familiar to the face of Jesus that the church had made – a handsome white man with big brown eyes and light brown hair. The appearance of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-16 is not that of Jesus made by the church.

People judge everything by what they see, hear, touch, and taste. Those who are spiritually blind judge everything by what their blind eyes see. For them, big church buildings and a large crowd are important. They want handsome-looking Jesus. False ministers and theologians seek approval from many people. They want fancy clothes and good seats. But true Christians meditate on the words of God day and night.

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us— (1 John 1:1-2)

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

God dwells in each saint. And when we speak the truth of God, we are like Jesus Christ, who did not take the authority of God by His will and might. With this in mind, we understand the work of the Holy Spirit.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Obedience was not the condition for Christ’s successful mission. The power came from the Father’s love. We also do not need to meet a condition to become God’s children. Those who receive God’s love obey Him naturally. Yet, God rewards us for our faithfulness when we do not deserve any rewards.

… the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)