Life of ChristLife of Christ

Part Thirteen: The Part Thirteen: The Resurrection and Ascension of Resurrection and Ascension of

ChristChrist

Chronology of EventsChronology of Events Discovery of the Empty TombDiscovery of the Empty Tomb Post-resurrection Appearances to:Post-resurrection Appearances to:

Mary MagdaleneMary Magdalene the other womenthe other women disciples on the road to Emmausdisciples on the road to Emmaus 10 assembled disciples in Jerusalem10 assembled disciples in Jerusalem 11 assembled disciples in Jerusalem11 assembled disciples in Jerusalem

7 disciples on Sea of Galilee7 disciples on Sea of Galilee Appearance to the 11 on a mount in Galilee; Appearance to the 11 on a mount in Galilee; Great CommissionGreat Commission

Appearance to the disciples in JerusalemAppearance to the disciples in Jerusalem Ascension from Mount of OlivesAscension from Mount of Olives

Sunday

Eight days later

Over the courseof the next 30 days

The Empty TombThe Empty Tomb

The tomb visited by the women (Matt The tomb visited by the women (Matt 28:1; Mark 16:1)28:1; Mark 16:1) The women who are named in the various The women who are named in the various

visits to the tomb are Mary Magdalene, Mary visits to the tomb are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less (aka the “other the mother of James the Less (aka the “other Mary”), Salome, and Joanna. There were Mary”), Salome, and Joanna. There were “other women” (Luke 24:10) with them.“other women” (Luke 24:10) with them.

The stone rolled away (Matt 28:2-4)The stone rolled away (Matt 28:2-4) The exact moment of Jesus’ resurrection is The exact moment of Jesus’ resurrection is

unrevealed. The early witnesses of His unrevealed. The early witnesses of His resurrection were those who saw Him after He resurrection were those who saw Him after He arose. The removal of the stone was not to arose. The removal of the stone was not to allow Jesus to leave, but to show witnesses the allow Jesus to leave, but to show witnesses the empty tomb.empty tomb.

The Empty TombThe Empty Tomb

The tomb found to be empty by the The tomb found to be empty by the women (Matt 28:5-8; Mark 16:2-8; Luke women (Matt 28:5-8; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1)24:1-8; John 20:1) The same women who had witnessed His death The same women who had witnessed His death

now came to complete the burial process, now came to complete the burial process, which had been done in haste on Friday which had been done in haste on Friday evening.evening.

The tomb found to be empty by Peter and The tomb found to be empty by Peter and John (Luke 24:9-11 [12]; John 20:2-10)John (Luke 24:9-11 [12]; John 20:2-10) The orderly grave clothes provided evidence The orderly grave clothes provided evidence

that the body had not been taken by grave that the body had not been taken by grave robbers, the disciples, or anyone else.robbers, the disciples, or anyone else.

The Post-Resurrection The Post-Resurrection AppearancesAppearances

Appearance to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; Appearance to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)John 20:11-18) Jesus’ words were apparently to inform Mary that He was Jesus’ words were apparently to inform Mary that He was

not returning to the old life as Lazarus had; by clinging to not returning to the old life as Lazarus had; by clinging to Him, Mary responded as though He were. He would Him, Mary responded as though He were. He would spend only a limited time on earth after His resurrection.spend only a limited time on earth after His resurrection.

Appearance to the other women (Matthew 28:9-Appearance to the other women (Matthew 28:9-10)10) These women could now report that they had seen both These women could now report that they had seen both

the empty tomb and the risen Lord.the empty tomb and the risen Lord. Report of the soldiers to the Jewish authorities Report of the soldiers to the Jewish authorities

(Matt 28:11-15)(Matt 28:11-15) The absurdity of this story reveals the desperation of the The absurdity of this story reveals the desperation of the

Sanhedrin. For twenty centuries there have been much Sanhedrin. For twenty centuries there have been much attempts to explain away the empty tomb, all as futile as attempts to explain away the empty tomb, all as futile as this one. The only plausible explanation is that God this one. The only plausible explanation is that God raised Jesus from the dead, allowing Him to leave the raised Jesus from the dead, allowing Him to leave the tomb under His own power.tomb under His own power.

The Post-Resurrection The Post-Resurrection AppearancesAppearances

Appearance to two disciples traveling to Emmaus Appearance to two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Mark [16:12-13]; Luke 24:13-32)(Mark [16:12-13]; Luke 24:13-32) The sorrow and despondency of these followers of Jesus The sorrow and despondency of these followers of Jesus

shows two things:shows two things: they could not have made up the story of His resurrection;they could not have made up the story of His resurrection; they still did not believe it themselves.they still did not believe it themselves.

Report of the two disciples to the rest (1 Cor Report of the two disciples to the rest (1 Cor 15:5a; Luke 24:33-35)15:5a; Luke 24:33-35) The appearance to Peter recorded in 1 Cor 15:5a is not The appearance to Peter recorded in 1 Cor 15:5a is not

recorded in the gospels.recorded in the gospels. Appearance to the ten assembled disciples (Mark Appearance to the ten assembled disciples (Mark

[16:14]; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)[16:14]; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25) This scene reveals several things about Jesus’ body:This scene reveals several things about Jesus’ body:

He was able to pass through a locked door.He was able to pass through a locked door. The wounds of His crucifixion were still visible.The wounds of His crucifixion were still visible. The body was material in nature and could be touched.The body was material in nature and could be touched. It consisted of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).It consisted of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). It was capable of consuming food.It was capable of consuming food.

The Post-Resurrection The Post-Resurrection AppearancesAppearances

Appearance to the eleven assembled disciples (1 Appearance to the eleven assembled disciples (1 Cor 15:5b; John 20:26-31)Cor 15:5b; John 20:26-31) After overcoming His initial skepticism, Thomas made After overcoming His initial skepticism, Thomas made

the strongest confession of all. To call Jesus “God” was the strongest confession of all. To call Jesus “God” was to put Him on the same plane as the Father.to put Him on the same plane as the Father.

Appearance to the seven disciples while fishing Appearance to the seven disciples while fishing (John 21:1-25)(John 21:1-25) Apparently Peter initially failed to recognize that Jesus Apparently Peter initially failed to recognize that Jesus

was calling to them from the shore. After they finished, was calling to them from the shore. After they finished, Jesus restored Peter from his earlier denials and Jesus restored Peter from his earlier denials and prophesied about the kind of death Peter would die.prophesied about the kind of death Peter would die.

Appearance to the eleven in Galilee (1 Cor 15:6; Appearance to the eleven in Galilee (1 Cor 15:6; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark [16:15-18])Matthew 28:16-20; Mark [16:15-18]) Perhaps this site was chosen because it was convenient Perhaps this site was chosen because it was convenient

to many of Jesus’ loyal followers.to many of Jesus’ loyal followers.

The Post-Resurrection The Post-Resurrection AppearancesAppearances

Appearance to James, His brother (1 Cor Appearance to James, His brother (1 Cor 15:7)15:7) This is probably James, the half-brother of This is probably James, the half-brother of

Jesus. He was an unbeliever before the Jesus. He was an unbeliever before the crucifixion but later became a leader of the crucifixion but later became a leader of the Jerusalem church.Jerusalem church.

Appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem Appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 1:3-8; Luke 24:44-49)(Acts 1:3-8; Luke 24:44-49) This is not the same appearance as the earlier This is not the same appearance as the earlier

one that took place in Jerusalem on the same one that took place in Jerusalem on the same day as the resurrection. Luke makes clear in day as the resurrection. Luke makes clear in Acts that forty days had passed.Acts that forty days had passed.

The AscensionThe Ascension

Christ’s parting blessing and Christ’s parting blessing and departure (Acts 1:9-12; Mark [16:19-departure (Acts 1:9-12; Mark [16:19-20]; Luke 24:50-53)20]; Luke 24:50-53) After Christ’s ascension, these first After Christ’s ascension, these first

Christians returned to the place where Christians returned to the place where they had always worshipped, the Temple. they had always worshipped, the Temple. It took time before they understood that It took time before they understood that Temple worship was no longer a Temple worship was no longer a requirement. The destruction of the requirement. The destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 did not hinder them.Temple in A.D. 70 did not hinder them.