What Did Jesus Do Between His Resurrection and Ascension?

According to scripture, Jesus appeared to His followers 11 times over forty days (Acts 1:3). We also know He appeared to over five hundred people at one time during one of His sermons (I Corinthians 15:6). Thus, we can rightly assume He met with many other people in many places that were not noted in Scripture. We are told that He showed to various followers at various times and in various places “by many infallible proofs” that He was in fact, alive; that His resurrection was not a metaphor, or a legend, but a literal historical fact. This was an imperative part of Jesus’ mission. He knew that His sacrifice, death and resurrection was the foundational doctrine of the Church He would establish. He also knew that the same skeptics that existed in the first century would continue to exist over the next two thousand years. Therefore, it was vital that His followers have no doubt in their minds that He was once literally dead and buried, yet was now alive and well just as He had repeatedly prophesied to His followers and the Jewish religious leaders (Acts 1:3-11).

Jesus’ mission over the next 40 days would be three-fold. First, He personally met with as many of His followers as possible so that they could serve as eyewitnesses to the fact that He was crucified and buried yet was now alive. Again, Scripture describes this effort with the phrase “many convincing proofs”. Second, Jesus would meet with His followers and explain, in detail, all the Old Testament prophies He had fulfilled as Messiah (Luke 4:17-21; Luke 24:25-27; John 8:58). And finally, He gave His disciples and believers detailed commands they were to follow. The first was to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrived. This would happen during the Feast of Pentecost that came 50 days after Passover (Acts 1:4-5, 8: Luke 24:49). They were to make disciples of all the nations and, “ to preach… that He was ordained of {by} God to be the {ultimate} judge of the quick {living} and the dead {deceased}.” (Acts 10:42) Those who believed were to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and observe all {only} the things that He had commanded (Matthew 28: 18-20). Thus those Christian denominations, no matter how well intended, that require parishioners to perform customs or traditions not commanded by Christ, are teaching false doctrines. 

Jesus now taught almost exclusively about the Kingdom of God both spiritual {His Church} and physical {the Millennial Age}. He commissioned His disciples and all believers to boldly proclaim Him as Lord and Savior. He promised that all believers would now receive the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It would be the Holy Spirit who would assist a believer’s intellect in resisting the sins of the flesh and proclaim Christ as Lord. And finally, He spent the vast majority of His final 40 days on Earth publicly preaching, teaching His disciples and healing as many people as possible.

Jesus always had a well-considered plan of action. After His resurrection, He put into play His plan to gently re-introduced himself to His disciples, followers and family. He wanted to accomplish this in ways that would not further aggravate their existing trauma concerning His sudden and brutal death. The very first part of His plan was to clear the tomb area of guards so that his followers could safely approach His empty tomb. He next had an angel descend and roll back the stone that was used to seal His tomb. The angel then told the women who first visited the tomb that Jesus had arisen from the dead and invited them to personally inspect the tomb to see for themselves. Jesus then had two additional angels sit at either end of the body pedestal and also tell women that Jesus had arisen (John 20:11-12).

Unfortunately, Mary Magdalene did not stay at the tomb long enough to hear the angle’s proclamation. Instead, she jumped to the conclusion that the body was stolen and ran to tell the disciples to get ready for more bad news. The idea of the Romans holding the body for ransom, or the Jews stealing the body to desecrate it, were very real possibilities. However, the disciples repeatedly disregarded the reports from Mary and the other women concerning His resurrection. Their disbelief is most probably what caused Jesus to meet with them last. They lacked faith.

Mary left the doubting disciples and returned back to the Tomb. It was then that Jesus personally met with her. All four Gospels agree that Mary Magdalene was the first person to meet with Jesus on the morning of His resurrection. Jesus left Mary and met with the women that were previously at the tomb. He did this because they had talked among themselves and agreed it would be too dangerous for them to be caught spreading the news that Jesus had arisen (Mark 16:8). Thus, Jesus met personally with them both as a reward for their having visited His tomb, but more importantly, to strengthen their faith. It was then that they had the courage to tell the disciples the news of His resurrection and that He would meet them in the Galilee (Matthew 28:7-10).

Jesus next personally met with two of His followers as they were walking from Jerusalem back to their home in Emmaus. These two people were Jesus' uncle Cleophas and his wife Mary (Luke 24:13-35). Jesus then disappeared and they immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples that He had arisen.

Jesus then personally met with Peter, who was the most depressed of all the disciples. Unbelievably, while Jesus was being tried, Peter denied he knew Jesus not once or even twice but three times! Jesus had prophesied that Peter would do this and was gentle with Peter assuring Him that all was forgiven (Matthew 26:34-35).

Jesus then met with the eleven disciples on Resurrection Sunday evening (John 20:27). To allay their fears that He was a ghost, He ate food in front of them. He then told them in no uncertain terms how very disappointed He was in their complete lack of faith that He had the power to rise from the dead (John 10:18) . And, that they had adamantly refused to believe the women who told them of His resurrection and their meeting with the angels.

One week later Jesus met again with the disciples. This time Thomas was present (John 20:25; John 20:28). Thomas would exclaim, “…my Lord my God.”. This was the first time this understating of the full majesty of Jesus was publicly stated. Jesus’ reply to Thomas was also a solemn promise to all believers down through the generations. He said, ”blessed are those who do  {did} not seen{witness my death burial and resurrection} and yet have believed." (John 20:29).

John wrote that Jesus was involved in countless synagogue sermons, debates with religious leaders, healings and private lessons with His disciples. He also told parables to large public groups and at private dinners. The vast majority of these events are not cited in the Gospels. With this in mind, John wrote that if every cited and uncited event were to be fully documented along with ancillary ramifications, “…the {first century} world {with its libraries} itself could not contain all the books that could be written.” (John 21:25) While this quote would at first appear to be hyperbole, in many ways it is not. For example, if one were to document every one of Jesus’ teachings cited and uncited, this would possibly create as many as 3,000 volumes. Then, if a 1,000 Christian scholars were to write commentaries on each of the volumes, this would create a library of 300,000 volumes. The largest library in the first century was the Great Library of Alexandria which is thought to have contained 450,000 volumes. But we are not finished counting! Today we know that Christian and secular scholars have never stopped writing on the words of Jesus. So it should come as no surprise that there have been over 145 million books written on Him and the meanings of His teachings and healings. Then there are the untold stories of people involved in mass healings that occurred just by touching His garments. Then there are the untold stories of the effects these healing had on these people’s children and grandchildren. Then there are the stories told today by believers concerning answered prayers and the receiving of guidance, healings and miracles of all kinds. Therefore, John was correct in that the total number of stories about Jesus from His ministry to His legacy is truly incalculable. And these stories will continue to be written down and continue to fill library after library after library until His return.

SO WHY DIDN’T JESUS APPEAR TO MORE PEOPLE?

There are a number of logical reasons why Jesus did not appear to more people. First, had He appeared to the Jewish religious leaders, they would have denied it was Jesus that they were seeing. They would also have Him arrested and immediately attempt to stone Him to death. Frankly speaking, there was no use giving them any more proofs (John 9:39-41; Romans 11:7-10, 25). They were now completely spiritually blind because of their gross self-righteousness. They saw Jesus not for who He actually was, but who He was to them. They understood that He would end the old Temple system of law and punishment, and replace it with a new system of faith, grace and mercy. This idea was diametrically opposed to the current system. But more importantly, Jesus’ Church had no place for them and the lucrative income streams they operated under the sanction of the priesthood. Extraordinary amounts of money were being made by burdening parishioners with Temple taxes and hefty fees associated with feast dates. This would end immediately if Jesus was in charge (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus could have appeared to the average pagan and announced who He was. But they would not have had any theological understanding of what He was talking about. He could have appeared to Pilate. But he would have thought Jesus was just another god or perhaps he would have assumed the guards took a bribe and Jesus was not executed nor buried after all. At any rate, Pilate would never become a believer as it would cause him to lose his job and power.

No, the only people Jesus seems to have met with were the only people who would appreciate who He was and what He had accomplished. Seeing Him in the flesh greatly increased their belief in Him, and many became martyrs as they could not rescind what they had clearly seen with their own eyes. This is why all His disciples went from sniveling cowards hiding in a room to outspoken Apostles preaching to everyone who would listen. Thus, with the exception of John, they were all arrested, tried and died in horrible ways. Yet even as they were being tortured to death, they continued proclaiming the truth of Jesus crucified and resurrected with the power to bestow eternal life.

THE PEOPLE JESUS PERSONALLY APPEARED TO AFTER HE AROSE 

Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18) 

Four Women Mary, mother of James & Jose, Salome, Joanna, a woman (Matthew 28:9-10) 

Peter (Luke 24:34; I Corinthians 15:5) 

Cleophas and Mary on Road to Emmaus: (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24: 13-35) 

Ten Disciples Hiding in a Room: (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23) 

Eleven Disciples in a Room: (Mark 16:14-18; John 20:26-29) 

Seven Disciples Fishing in Sea of Galilee: (John 21: 1-23) 

Eleven Disciples on a Mountain in Galilee: (Matthew 28: 16-20) 

Five Hundred Perhaps Below Same Mountain in Galilee: (I Corinthians 15:6) 

James the Biological Step Brother of Jesus: (I Corinthians 15:7) 

Twelve Disciples at Ascension on Mt of Olives: (Mark 16:19-20; Luke24:50-52; Acts 1:3-11)

MORE INFORMATION JESUS GAVE THOSE PAYING ATTENTION 

On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus appeared to His followers in a resurrected body. We can rightly assume that His resurrected body was the same as the ones His followers will receive at the Resurrection and Rapture (Phil 3:21; I Cor 15:48-49; I Jn 3:2). At that time, the dead will be resurrected immortal and raptured up into the Earth’s atmosphere to be indwelled with their intelligent spirits. At the Rapture, the living righteous will also be translated to immortality and taken up into the Earth’s atmosphere. There, all will see Jesus and follow Him into Heaven to attend the Marriage of Christ to His Church followed by the Supper of the Lamb.

WHAT DID JESUS ACCOMPLISH DURING HIS LAST 40 DAYS ON EARTH?   

First, while on the cross, Jesus dismissed His intelligent spirt and instantly died. This act of a man commanding his own death so dumbfounded the attending Centurion that He said out loud, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54) Jesus’ intelligent spirit now went down into Sheol and preached the good news to the righteous dead. As a self-sacrificing Messiah, He had created a path forward so that the righteous spirits could now ascend up into the presence of God. After three days, His spirit left Sheol and indwelled His body. At that moment, Jesus became alive again. We now learn that He sat up while still on the tomb’s body pedestal. He then stood ready to leave the tomb. What is traditionally overlooked is what happened to His burial wrappings. His burial wrappings had hardened due to the spices and resins, such as myrrh, that were liberally wrapped in the cloth. Therefore, when Jesus sat up, He passed through the wrappings leaving them undisturbed. They were still in the shape of His body, but His body was now gone. This is an overlooked miracle that will be better explained as we read of Jesus now being able to pass into and out of locked rooms. Those that die or are Raptured no longer will visit Sheol, but instead instantly be with Christ.  

Second, His resurrected body was able to walk out of His tomb through a solid rock wall. The angel only removed the tomb door so that the women could see that He was gone. Science refers to this ability as Molecular Tunneling. This is when the molecules of one object, realign so that they can pass through the space between the molecule of another object. So, Jesus’ molecular structure could now instantly rearranged itself so as to be able to past through burial cloth and solid stone (Matthew 28: 1-2; Matthew 28:6). Those Raptured will be able to pass through all solid objects. 

Third, Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus at first. It may have been because it was early dawn and Jesus’ face was in shadows. But even when she and others met Him, they apparently did not completely believe it was Him. This is because Jesus was now in a youthful body with a face genetically refreshed and perfect. It was when Mary heard Jesus say her name that she knew it was Him (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18). Those Raptured will have perfect thirty years old immortal bodies. 

Forth, Mary left the tomb site to give a report to the disciples. Jesus then appeared to the women who had left the tomb earlier. This would mean that Jesus was able to physically move at the speed of thought. He wanted to meet the women before they entered Jerusalem and He was instantaneously with them (Matthew 28:9-10). Those Raptured will be able to move from place to place at the speed of thought. 

Fifth, Jesus {God the Word} needed to meet with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit {Triune Godhead} to consummate the New improved Covenant He had created with His self-sacrifice as the final Passover Lamb. This most Holy of ceremonies required Him to ascend or be raptured up into Heaven (John 20:17). Once there, He put a drop of His blood on the Mercy Seat of the Heavenly Ark of the Old Covenant. He then returned to Earth (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20; I Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15-28). Those Raptured will be able to meet with their Creator in Heaven. 

Sixth, Jesus now desired to appear to His aunt Mary and uncle Cleopas to give them the good news of His resurrection. They were on their way back to their home in Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them (Luke 24:32). Those Raptured and returning to the Earth at the Second Coming will be able to visit people and places at the speed of thought.  

Seventh, Jesus now wanted to privately console Peter for denying Him three times during His trial. So, He instantly appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34; John 21:15-17; I Cor 15:5). 

Eighth, Before meeting with His disciples for dinner, He returned back down into the heart of the Earth or Sheol to satisfy a prophecy He made concerning being on the Earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). This would count as His third night in the earth. He then lead the captive righteous spirits up and into Heaven (Ephesians 4:8). Believers in Christ no longer go to Sheol but are immediately with Christ (II Corinthians 5:8).                     

Ninth, Jesus then wanted to meet with His disciples and so He instantly appeared among them by passing through the walls of the room (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23, 26). He showed them the scars He received from His crucifixion (John 20:20, 27; Luke 24:39-40). When He had finished meeting with them, He left the room and seemed to disappear (Luke 24:31). 

Tenth, In order to calm their fears that He was a ghost, He ate broiled fish and honeycomb. So resurrected immortal bodies can chose to eat or not eat food (Luke 24:42-43; John 21:12-15). Those Raptured will have immortal bodies and will be able to eat food or not. They are now powered by the Holy Spirit.  

Eleventh, The next week He once again appeared to His disciples in a closed and locked room. He allowed them to touch the wounds in His hands and the stab wound in His side which was apparently still open to some degree (Mark 16:14-18; John 20:26-29; I Corinthians 15:5). 

Twelfth, Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. He wanted to be with them and so He was instantly transported to the shore where He called out to them (John 21:1-23).

 Thirteenth, Jesus appears to more than five hundred people at the same time. So He was obviously still visiting cities and villages preaching that salvation and eternal life are now available through faith in Him plus nothing else. This was the existential threat that the Jewish leaders had feared  come true (I Corinthians 15:6). 

Fourteenth: Jesus now wanted to meet with His stepbrother James. So, He was instantly with His brother where He talked with him and no doubt showed him His scars. James now believed that his older brother had been resurrected from the dead, was alive and well and therefore must truly be the Son of God (I Corinthians 15:7). Those Raptured will be able to immediately meet with family and friends. 

Lastly, Jesus met with His disciples and gave them the Great Commission. This was to spread the good news of eternal life through faith in Him around the world. He was later pronouncing a blessing on them when He suddenly began to slowly levitate up into the air. All His disciples were able to watch Him until He disappeared into the clouds. In this way, Jesus showed His disciples and His followers what the Resurrection and Rapture will look like. Two angels then appeared and told the stunned disciples that Jesus would return the exact same way they saw Him leave. Meaning, He would descend back to the Earth slowly to the exact spot where He departed for everyone to plainly see (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:2-11). The Righteous in Christ will be Raptured from the earth, but it will happen in a nano second. They will seem to disappear as did Jesus when He left His disciples. They will also return back to the Earth with Christ at His Second Coming. 

Ten days later during the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus’ prophecy concerning the arrival of the Holy Spirit occurred (John 14:26). This proved that Jesus’ sacrifice now allowed the Holy Spirit to remain in a believer. This indwelling serves three purposes. First, to help a believer’s intellect control their physical sinful urges. Second, at death, the Holy Spirit would now escort the believer’s spirit up into Heaven to be with Christ. Third, it is the power of the Holy Spirt that will physically resurrect the righteous dead back to life, cause the indwelling of their intelligent spirits back into their bodies, translate the living believers from mortal to immortal, and then take both groups up into the Earth’s atmosphere to meet with Christ. From there all will ascend into Heaven to participate in the Marriage ceremony of Christ to His Church (Revelation 19:7-9). The Holy Spirit will translate all followers of Christ into immortals in order for them to survive the trip from Earth to Heaven and then from Heaven back to the Earth (I Corinthians 15:53-55). 

So, Jesus was incredibly busy during the final 40 days He was on Earth and before His ascension into Heaven. The real question is, how are you spending your days while waiting for your ascension into Heaven?