After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to his disciples on various occasions. The Bible records several instances where he appeared before them and interacted with them.
But how long did Jesus stay with his disciples after his resurrection? Let’s explore this question in more detail.
Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances
After the crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, as prophesied in the Old Testament (Matthew 28:6). He appeared before Mary Magdalene and other women who were visiting his tomb (Mark 16:9).
Later that day, he appeared to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). On the same day, he also appeared before ten of his disciples while they were gathered together in a room (John 20:19-23).
A week later, Jesus appeared before all eleven of his disciples (including Thomas) while they were gathered together again (John 20:26-29). After this appearance, there are no recorded appearances until Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
How Long Did Jesus Stay with His Disciples?
It’s difficult to know for sure how long Jesus stayed with his disciples after his resurrection. The Bible doesn’t provide a specific timeline for these events. However, we can make some assumptions based on the recorded post-resurrection appearances.
It seems that Jesus only appeared to his disciples over a period of about forty days after his resurrection. This is based on Acts 1:3 which tells us that “He presented himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” During this time, he continued to teach them about God’s kingdom and what was expected of them as followers of Christ.
What Happened During This Time?
While we don’t know the exact details of what happened during these forty days, we do know that Jesus continued to teach and instruct his disciples. He also gave them the Great Commission – the command to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
During this time, he also appeared before a large group of believers (1 Corinthians 15:6). This appearance is not recorded in the Gospels, but it likely happened during this forty-day period.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Bible doesn’t give us a specific timeline for how long Jesus stayed with his disciples after his resurrection, it’s likely that he appeared to them over a period of about forty days. During this time, he continued to teach and instruct them about God’s kingdom and what was expected of them as followers of Christ.