Jesus was constantly in disguise and hiding

Jesus always hiding

After three days and three nights he is seen, not by the public, but only by his disciples. He avoids the light of day and only meets them under the cover of darkness at night. If he had been given a new and eternal life after his first death, why was he hiding from the eyes of his enemies? The only reason would be that Jesus had not died and was still in that earthly body.

Christian responseJesus did not disguise himself for fear of the Jews. On the contrary, we read in the bible that after his resurrection, he appeared to many people. In Matthew 28:9, he appeared to two women, in Luke 24:13‑15, two disciples, in Luke 24:34 Simon Peter, in John 20:19, John 20:26 and John 21:1 the apostles, in Matthew 28:16,17 the apostles again this time in Galilee. He even appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time. (1 Corinthians 15:6).Jesus appeared only before his disciples

Then Judas said, `But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ (John 14:22)

Critics use this verse to show that Jesus only dared to show himself in private when he was with his disciples.

Christian response

John  14:22 is a question by Judas, not to ask Jesus why he would only appear in to them in private and not to the rest of the world. Jesus never said that he would from henceforth only reveal himself physically to his disciples.

(John 14:19)  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.

This statement proves that Jesus intends to continue to show himself to the world for sometime more but there comes a time when they will no longer see him because he will ascend to God. But the disciples will continue to see him, not in the physical sense but in the sense of Jesus continuing to reveal himself to them. Jesus says he will reveal himself only to those who love him, not just Jesus revealing but his father as well (verse 23). The word “see” used to refer to physical sight can also refer to intellectual and spiritual understanding.

Jesus did not dare to go into a village and expose himself in public

As they approached the village to which they were going , Jesus acted as if he were going further. But they urged him strongly, `Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. (Luke 24,28-29)

Muslims use this verse to show that Jesus did not dare to enter the village near Jerusalem for fear that people would recognize him and wanted to proceed to someplace farther. Jesus only went to that village when he was being persuaded and only because it was almost dark and people would be less likely to recognize him in the dark.

Christian response

Luke 24:28,29 does not show that Jesus was unwillingly to be seen during day by those who will recognise him. The verse simply says Jesus intends to go farther but was persuaded by the men to stay in their village. If Jesus was afraid to show himself to the public, he would have insisted to leave and not be persuaded to stay.

Jesus was always in disguise so that people would not recognize him.

John 20:14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Mary Magdalene, a close friend of Jesus, did not recognise Jesus when she first met him.

(Luke 24:13-16 NIV)  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. {14} They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. {15} As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; {16} but they were kept from recognizing him.

The men whom Jesus walked with to Emmaus (Luke 24) did not realise that the person they were talking to was Jesus.

Christian response

Jesus did not disguise himself. Mary could not recognise Jesus because Jesus choose not to reveal himself to her at first.

We read of a similar incident in Luke 24:13‑16, 30‑31 when two men did not know that it was Jesus even though they had walked seven miles with him because verse 16 says “they were kept from recognizing him.” They could only recognise who Jesus was when he chose to reveal himself to them and open their eyes.

(Luke 24:30-31)  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. {31} Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.