After Jesus’ crucifixion and death, He was buried in a tomb. However, on the third day, something miraculous happened – He rose from the dead!
This is known as the Resurrection, and it’s one of the most important events in Christianity. But what did Jesus do after His Resurrection? Let’s take a closer look.
Appearances to His Disciples
One of the first things that Jesus did after His Resurrection was to appear to His disciples. In fact, He appeared to them on multiple occasions over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3). These appearances were important because they helped to confirm that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
John 20:19-20 tells us about one such appearance: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”
It’s important to note that not all of Jesus’ disciples believed at first that He had risen from the dead. Thomas, for example, famously doubted until he saw Jesus’ wounds for himself (John 20:24-29).
The Great Commission
Another important thing that Jesus did after His Resurrection was to give His disciples what is now known as “The Great Commission.” This can be found in Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”
This commission was a call for Jesus’ disciples to spread the Good News of His resurrection and salvation to all people. It’s a call that still echoes throughout the Christian world today.
Ascension
Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. This event is described in Acts 1:9-11: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”
This event marked the end of Jesus’ physical presence on earth and serves as a reminder of His divine nature.
In Conclusion
After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples multiple times over a period of forty days. He also gave them The Great Commission and ultimately ascended into heaven. These events are important not only for their historical significance but also for what they tell us about Jesus’ divinity and the message that He came to share with the world.