Acts 1:3 “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive."
We celebrated Easter, meaning the death, burial, and Jesus’ resurrection, which is the good news to the world and the body of Christ. But the question often asked is, what happened after he rose from the dead? Which is a great question. In this blog, we will look at what Jesus did the 40 days on earth before he ascended to sit at the right hand of the father. (Acts 1:9)
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the first to see Jesus alive again, on Resurrection Sunday morning. In Matthew 28:5-10 they are told by the angels of the Lord he had risen, was not in the tomb, and they should come and see for themselves. They were filled with great joy as they ran to tell the disciples the great news. But before they got to the disciples, something beautiful happened, Jesus appeared to them himself. They worshiped him and he told them to go and tell my disciples to go to Galilee and he would meet them.
It was good news for some, but for others, it was not so good. It meant that they’d made a mistake and killed the Messiah, the son of the living God. So, they agreed on a plan to lie and paid soldiers to tell that lie (Matthew 28:11-14). Verse 15 tells us that this story is still believed by some people today. This is why it was important for Jesus to not just rise from the dead and go straight back to sit at the right hand of the father. He had to show himself to enough people so they would not believe a lie. Even one of his own disciples didn’t believe. Jesus had met and saw all the disciples except for Thomas, and when the others were trying to tell Thomas that they’d seen Jesus, he said that he would not believe unless he was able to put his hand in the hole in his side. (John 20:25) About a week later, Jesus visited with the disciples and Thomas. (Verse 27) He said to Thomas, here put your hand in my side, and stop doubting and believe. In verse 28 Thomas had a change of heart. He cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus rebuked him in verse 29. He said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."
I love that verse because it includes you and me. By faith we believe, and we have not seen yet. But what a glorious day it’s going to be when we get to see our Savior face to face.
If you continue to read in Matthew 28:18, Jesus declared to his disciples that all authority had been given to him in heaven, and on Earth. Because what he was getting ready to tell them next, he wanted them to know that he had the authority to send them out. Jesus gave them the great commission, to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them, in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The only person baptizing people while Jesus walked the Earth was John the Baptist, now the disciples had that authority as well. Given to them by the only one that could, Jesus Christ himself. John’s baptism of repentance, it prepared the people to receive the coming savior. The baptism that Jesus was giving his disciples was giving them the authority to welcome people into the new covenant that was given after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus also met two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
In Luke 24:13-32, two followers of Jesus are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the Sabbath. Jesus appears, though they do not recognize Him until the end of the conversation. One of them was named Cleopas (Luke 24:18), the second disciple is unnamed.
After Jesus appeared to the two men, they were so excited, and they returned to Jerusalem to tell the apostles what had happened. (Luke 24:33-49)
Paul who wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:6, 500 people who saw the risen Jesus at one time. He also said most of them were still alive when he wrote to the Corinthians believers about 20 years later.
Family was important to Jesus, and he wanted to reconnect with his brothers. In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul also records Jesus appearing to James, the brother of Jesus. This helps explain why James served as a leader in the early Jerusalem Church (Acts 15) and would be responsible for writing the letter of James. His brother Jude would also become a follower of Christ and write the letter bearing his name.
Jesus had been seen by over 500 people. Enough people to bear witness that he had risen from the dead. Now it was time for him to go to the father, and these are his last words to the disciples. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 Men of Galilee, they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
I pray this has been helpful to you. Please share with others. Leave your comments, and questions. I look forward to staying connected to you!