Why did Jesus Stay for 40 days after His Resurrection?
After His glorious resurrection, Jesus didn’t immediately ascend into heaven. Instead, He remained on earth for forty days (Acts 1:3), appearing to His followers and preparing them for the mission ahead. But where exactly was He? What did He do during that time—and why?
Where Was Jesus?
The Gospels and the book of Acts tell us that Jesus appeared in multiple locations. He was seen first in Jerusalem, where He appeared to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb (John 20:11–18), to the disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19–23), and to Thomas a week later (John 20:26–29). He also appeared to two disciples walking to Emmaus, a village near Jerusalem (Luke 24:13–35).
Later, Jesus appeared in Galilee, just as He had promised (Matthew 28:10). There, He gave the Great Commission on a mountain (Matthew 28:16–20) and appeared to several disciples by the Sea of Galilee, where He restored Peter (John 21). Finally, on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, Jesus ascended into heaven in the presence of His disciples (Luke 24:50–51; Acts 1:9–12).
What Did Jesus Do?
Jesus was not idle during these forty days. Scripture says He “presented Himself alive... by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3, NASB). He did five main things:
He Proved He Was Alive:
Jesus offered undeniable evidence of His bodily resurrection. He showed His wounds (Luke 24:39), ate food (Luke 24:41–43), and invited His disciples to touch Him (John 20:27).He Taught the Scriptures:
Jesus opened their minds to understand how the Old Testament pointed to His death and resurrection (Luke 24:44–46), giving them the theological foundation for the gospel.He Strengthened Their Faith:
The disciples were initially fearful and doubtful. Jesus met them in their confusion and turned them into bold witnesses. Thomas moved from doubt to worship, declaring, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).He Commissioned Them:
Jesus sent His followers into the world with a mission:
“Go and make disciples of all nations...” — Matthew 28:19
He commanded them to preach the gospel and promised His presence would go with them.He Prepared Them for the Holy Spirit:
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), pointing to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Why Did He Do It?
Jesus stayed after the resurrection to ensure His disciples fully understood the truth of the resurrection, the meaning of the gospel, and the mission of the Church. His appearances confirmed His victory over death, fulfilled prophecy, and laid the foundation for the Church’s witness. Had He ascended immediately, fear and confusion might have crippled the early Church.
By staying, teaching, and empowering His followers, Jesus turned a scattered band of believers into a bold movement that would change the world. His resurrection wasn’t just an event—it was the beginning of a kingdom.
What does it mean for us?
The resurrection appearances of Jesus remind us that our faith is rooted in truth, not myth. He proved He was alive, met His followers in their fear and doubt, and gave them a mission—with the promise of His presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. For us today, this means we can trust Him in our struggles, live with boldness and purpose, and hold on to the hope of eternal life. His resurrection isn’t just something to believe—it’s something to live.
Beautiful!!