How many days between the Resurrection and Ascension?

The Resurrection and the Ascension

The Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ were the climactic events of His ministry on earth. Through His resurrection, Christ defeated the power of death, and by His ascension, He provided the redeemed with hope for His continual ministry on their behalf in the heavenly sanctuary.

Christ foretold His Ascension in John 6:62, informing His disciples that it was necessary for Him to leave them (John 14:1-6). Therefore, when He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9, 10), the disciples understood that He must remain there until His second advent. The good news of the ascension was preached in the early church by Peter (Acts 3:21), Paul (1 Timothy 3:16), and the rest of the apostles.

How Many Days Between Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension?

The Resurrection, as recorded in Luke 24, took place on the Feast of First Fruits, with Pentecost occurring seven weeks later. This is why it is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Weeks. The dates of both feasts were established by counting from the first Sabbath after Passover. The Feast of First Fruits was celebrated the day after the Sabbath, while Pentecost was observed 50 days later. Thus, there were only 49 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, meaning the time between Easter and Pentecost was seven weeks.

According to the book of Acts, Jesus’ ascension to heaven occurred on the 40th day after His resurrection. Luke writes, “During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Therefore, there were 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension, which means Pentecost was 9 days after the Ascension day.

Pentecost

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 2). During this time of year, Jews from every nation gathered to worship the Lord. They heard the gospel preached by the believers of Jesus, and each person understood what was preached in their own language, thanks to God’s miraculous intervention. Consequently, they praised the Lord, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (Acts 2:7-8).

After the preaching, the crowds were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). Those who gladly received His word were baptized, and on that day, about three thousand souls were added to them (Acts 2:41). This event marked the beginning of the New Testament Church.

The day of Pentecost fulfilled Jesus’ promise to His disciples regarding the Holy Spirit: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). It was a day of great mercy, when both Jews and Gentiles received the light of the gospel. For God “desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

What Did Jesus Do Between the Resurrection and the Ascension?

During the forty days following His resurrection, Jesus remained on earth to prepare His disciples for the work ahead. He did not stay with them continuously but revealed Himself to them repeatedly during this period.

One significant encounter occurred on the road to Emmaus with two of His followers. Here, Jesus, “…beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). He spoke of the prophecies regarding His advent, His rejection by the Jews, and His death (Isaiah 53; Ezekiel 2:3-6; Deuteronomy 21:23).

Jesus demonstrated to these men that every specification of the Messianic prophecies had been fulfilled. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:45-48).

Affirmation and Reconciliation

After the resurrection, Jesus stayed with His disciples and called them to receive the Holy Spirit and be empowered to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God (John 20:19-22). However, Thomas was absent during one of these appearances. He declared that he would not believe the report of the other disciples unless he saw Jesus’ wounds for himself (John 20:24-25). Jesus then provided Thomas the opportunity to touch His pierced hands and side (John 20:26-27). “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Additionally, Peter needed reconciliation with Jesus after denying Him three times (Luke 22:54-62). Despite Peter’s denial, Jesus sought him out and desired him to be a leader in the church. Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him the third time. He replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:17).

Peter’s three denials were met with three affirmations of love for Jesus, showcasing his repentance and desire to fully follow Christ. This interaction also highlighted Jesus’ ability to address the heart of the matter and ensure a person’s calling and election (2 Peter 1:10).

The Great Commission

The Lord wanted His disciples to proclaim the gospel of peace and salvation through repentance to the world, as they had been witnesses to all His works. The disciples were to share the events of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, revealing the mysteries of the plan of salvation and the power of Jesus for the remission of sins.

Ultimately, Jesus commissioned His disciples, saying, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).

To fulfill this great commission, the Lord promised His disciples power and divine protection (Mark 16:15-18) and assured them of His perpetual presence until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). This promise continues to inspire believers today as they carry forth the mission entrusted to them.