Easter is the pinnacle of the Christian liturgical calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event that changed the course of human history. It is the foundation of Christian faith, as believers affirm the victory of Jesus over death and sin. While Easter Sunday is marked by joy and hope, it is not the end of the story. In fact, the Bible tells us that there is much more that occurs after Easter—events that are crucial to understanding the full significance of Christ’s resurrection and the birth of the Christian Church.
This article explores the events that happen after Easter in the Bible, shedding light on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, His teachings, the Great Commission, His ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. All of these events form the cornerstone of Christian doctrine and the mission of the Church in the world.
The Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus
After His resurrection, Jesus did not immediately ascend to heaven. Instead, He appeared to His disciples and many others over a period of forty days. These appearances served as proof of His resurrection, providing His followers with undeniable evidence that He was alive, thus solidifying their faith and empowering them for the mission ahead.
1. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
One of the first post-resurrection appearances of Jesus occurs on Easter Sunday itself, when He appears to Mary Magdalene. According to the Gospel of John, Mary is at the tomb weeping when she encounters a man whom she initially believes to be the gardener. However, when Jesus calls her by name, she recognizes Him as the risen Christ (John 20:11-18). This moment is significant because Mary Magdalene becomes the first person to witness the risen Lord, and Jesus entrusts her with the message of His resurrection to share with the disciples. This encounter emphasizes the personal and relational nature of Jesus’ resurrection.
2. Jesus Appears to the Disciples
Later that day, Jesus appears to a group of His disciples who are gathered together in a locked room, fearful of the Jewish authorities. Jesus suddenly stands among them and shows them His wounds to prove that He is the same Jesus who was crucified. He offers peace to the disciples, who are initially startled and fearful (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23). This appearance marks the beginning of several encounters with His disciples in the days following His resurrection.
One of the most notable elements of these post-resurrection appearances is that Jesus demonstrates that He is both fully human and fully divine. He eats with His disciples, shares meals with them, and invites them to touch His wounds, emphasizing His physical reality and His bodily resurrection. This serves to dispel any doubts that He is merely a spirit or a figment of their imagination.
3. Jesus Appears to Thomas
One of the most famous post-resurrection appearances of Jesus occurs when He appears to Thomas, one of the twelve apostles. Thomas had expressed doubt about Jesus’ resurrection, stating that he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds. Eight days later, Jesus appears to the disciples again and invites Thomas to touch His wounds. Thomas, upon seeing the risen Christ, exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29). Jesus responds by affirming that those who believe without seeing are blessed, underscoring the importance of faith in the resurrection.
4. Jesus Appears to the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Another post-resurrection appearance takes place on the road to Emmaus, a village near Jerusalem. Two disciples are walking and discussing the recent events surrounding Jesus’ death when a stranger joins them. This stranger, who is actually the risen Jesus, explains to them how the Scriptures foretold the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. It is only when they sit down to eat together, and Jesus breaks the bread, that their eyes are opened, and they recognize Him (Luke 24:13-35). This encounter highlights how the resurrection of Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies and strengthens the faith of His followers.
The Great Commission
After His resurrection, Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission, which is a directive to spread the message of His resurrection and salvation to all nations. This commission is recorded in several places in the Gospels, but the most famous version appears in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded.
The Great Commission marks the beginning of the global mission of the Church. Jesus entrusts His disciples with the responsibility of continuing His work on earth, spreading the message of salvation to all people. This commission emphasizes the universality of the gospel and the need for Christians to actively share their faith.
In the Gospel of Mark (16:15-18), Jesus expands on the Great Commission by giving the disciples authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and perform signs and wonders in His name. These miracles will serve as evidence of God’s power working through the apostles.
The Ascension of Jesus
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven in the presence of His disciples. This event is recorded in Acts 1:9-11. As the disciples watch, Jesus is taken up into the sky, and a cloud hides Him from their sight. Two angels appear and inform the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way He left. The ascension is significant for several reasons.
First, it marks the end of Jesus’ physical presence on earth. His work on earth is completed, and He returns to the Father. However, the ascension is not a departure but a transition. Jesus promises His disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit to guide and empower them for their mission (John 14:16-17, Acts 1:4-5). The ascension also foreshadows Jesus’ return at the end of time, when He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Second, the ascension is a sign of Jesus’ exaltation and His enthronement at the right hand of God. In biblical terms, sitting at the right hand of God is a position of authority and power. Jesus’ ascension signifies His reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
In the days following Jesus’ ascension, His disciples return to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus had foretold. Ten days after the ascension, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples in a dramatic and powerful way. The Holy Spirit fills them, and they begin speaking in different languages, proclaiming the gospel to people from all nations who had gathered in Jerusalem for the festival (Acts 2:1-13).
The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the birth of the Christian Church. The disciples, now empowered by the Spirit, begin boldly proclaiming the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Peter delivers a sermon in which he explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and thousands of people are baptized and added to the Church that day (Acts 2:14-41).
The Holy Spirit continues to play a vital role in the life of the Church, guiding believers, empowering them for ministry, and enabling them to live out the teachings of Jesus. The Spirit also empowers Christians to perform signs and wonders, just as Jesus did during His earthly ministry.
The Spread of the Gospel and the Early Church
After the events of Pentecost, the disciples begin to spread the gospel throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and the surrounding regions. The book of Acts chronicles the early history of the Church, focusing on the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter and Paul. The apostles perform miracles, heal the sick, and preach about the resurrection of Jesus, leading to the conversion of many.
The early Church faces persecution, particularly from Jewish authorities who view the followers of Jesus as a threat to their power. Despite this, the gospel continues to spread, and the message of Jesus’ resurrection reaches people from all walks of life, both Jews and Gentiles. The spread of Christianity is further catalyzed by the Apostle Paul, who embarks on missionary journeys to establish churches in Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually Rome.
Conclusion
The events that occur after Easter are just as significant as the resurrection itself, and they provide a comprehensive understanding of Jesus’ mission on earth and the birth of the Christian Church. From His post-resurrection appearances to the Great Commission, the ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the spread of the gospel, these events shape the foundation of Christian faith and practice.
Easter is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of a new chapter in God’s plan for humanity. Through the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are called to a life of faith, hope, and mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of salvation with the world. The events that follow Easter are not only historical but also profoundly theological, as they continue to guide and inspire Christians in their journey of faith today.
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