Page 152 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

Study Section 17: Jesus’ 40-day ministry – His Ascension

17.1 Connect.

After Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, He presented Himself to the women, then to His
disciples several times, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and finally to over 500
people at one time. It is beyond doubt that Jesus was alive after being crucified!

The Bible tells us that Jesus stayed on Earth for forty more days after His resurrection. You
ever wonder why He hung around? Why did He not just show everyone He was alive, then ascend to His
Father in heaven?

The main reason is that He had some unfinished business to attend to. Peter had denied him and that
was not concluded. His disciples were asking, “What NOW?” So, Jesus stayed with His disciples for that
period to answer unanswered questions and to prepare His disciples to go out and become bold
witnesses of who He was. Let’s learn about these forty days….

17.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able to explain what the Great Commission is.

2. The student should be able to tell others how the Apostles fulfilled the Great Commission in their
day.

3. The student should be able to clarify why Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”

17.3 Forty Days until the Ascension (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18, Luke 24:44-49 and John
21; Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:4-11)

Jesus remained with the disciples for forty days after His resurrection. The Gospels report that
he appeared again to His disciples, this time confronting Thomas. The disciples were told to go
up to Galilee. He appeared to the seven disciples who were fishing and provided for them a
miraculous catch of fish. At this time, Jesus re-commissioned Peter for ministry.

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at one time in Galilee.
Paul also mentions that James, Jesus’ half-brother and writer of the book of James saw the resurrected
Jesus. Finally, he appeared to all his disciples on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended to the
Father.

During these 40 days, Jesus gave his disciples their final commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been

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given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father

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and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.
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