What Did Jesus Do During the Forty Days Following His Resurrection?

After Jesus’ resurrection, the Bible tells us that He spent forty days on earth before ascending to heaven. But what exactly did He do during this time? Let’s take a closer look.

Appearances to His Disciples

Jesus’ first priority after His resurrection was to appear to His disciples. He wanted to reassure them that He was indeed alive and that His promises were true. The Gospels record several of these appearances.

One of the most famous is the story of Doubting Thomas. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples, Thomas wasn’t there.

When he heard about it later, he refused to believe until he saw Jesus for himself. A week later, Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to touch His wounds. This finally convinced Thomas that Jesus had truly risen from the dead (John 20:24-29).

Commissioning His Disciples

Another important aspect of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry was commissioning His disciples for their future work. In Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission, Jesus instructed them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This command wasn’t just for the original disciples; it still applies to us today as Christians. We are called to share the good news of salvation with others and make disciples who will follow Christ.

Teaching and Explaining Scriptures

During His time on earth after the resurrection, Jesus also spent time teaching and explaining scriptures to His followers. In Luke 24:27, we read that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

This is a powerful reminder that even after we become believers, we still have much to learn about God’s Word. We should never stop studying and seeking to understand the Bible more fully.

Conclusion

In summary, Jesus’ forty days on earth after His resurrection were a time of reassurance, commissioning, and teaching. He wanted to ensure that His disciples understood what had happened and what they were called to do next. As we follow Christ today, we can take comfort in knowing that He is alive and working in our lives just as He did in the lives of those early believers.