40 Days Between Resurrection and Ascension

Have you ever wondered where Jesus went or what he did between dying on the cross (Good Friday) and his resurrection (Easter)? What about between resurrection and before his ascension back into heaven? I recently was part of a conversation about that.

I get intrigued by these sort of things because I've always been the kind of guy who enjoys a good back story. The main story is cool, character development yes, but I like knowing all the little details that are on the peripheries. I think that helps frame the context of the climax for Jesus' ministry and makes what happened when He was on earth even more interesting.

Ok so how long was it between Resurrection Day and Ascension Day? That time period was 40 days. I think that's fitting because his Earthly Ministry commenced with 40 days in the wilderness and concluded the same way. I get a kick out of things like that, but I also don't believe it to be a coincidence.

So, what does scripture say exactly about where Jesus went during those 40 days?

Spoiler Alert! Scripture isn't directly clear by having one single story in a single passage with those specific details, however there are some scattered passages that help us extrapolate what he was doing during that time and we are able to peer in as Bible detectives.

When Jesus resurrected, he no longer had the confinement of a physical human body, so he was able to “move through the Spirit” (sort of transport himself) wherever he needed to go. We see this when he just beamed in and appeared to a couple disciples on the road to Emmaus. Read that really cool story here: Luke 24:13-35

Acts 1:1-3 tells us, “in my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

1 Cor 15:4-8 says, “that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

Perhaps the veil between Heaven and Earth is thinner than we think it is and he was able to go from here to there as he desired. His climatic Ascension then could be a divinely symbolic departure that he demonstrated for his disciples, and to us, that he was going back to heaven to stay until his triumphant return when he comes back to redeem, judge, and restore the world. This was actually the exact news told by the two angels who appeared as Jesus was ascending. Read that here: Acts 1:10-11

No matter what Jesus was doing, or where he went, during those 40 days, we can be sure that he was fulfilling the will of the Father by leading people to know who He is and bringing glory to God. That was His mission while He was here, on earth in the flesh, and that mission He passed along to us moments before He gloriously Ascended to Heaven.

His send off commission is so powerful because it not only tells what He wants us to do, giving us purpose by clearly sharing His vision, but Jesus Christ also creates our identity for who He wants us to be. Read it here: Matthew 28:16-20

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