Why Did Jesus Spend 40 Days with His Disciples after Resurrection?

3 Reason Why Jesus Spent 40 Days On Earth After His Resurrection

Have you ever thought about the forty days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven? The 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead one of most significant periods of the church calendar, and least celebrated or noted. One question I often wondered was “why did Jesus stay around for 40 days after He came back from the grave, instead of going immediately into heaven?” This question intrigued me so much that I began to do some research on the subject and discovered three reasons why Jesus Christ spent so long on the earth after his resurrection.

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3 Reasons Jesus Stayed on the Earth After His Resurrection

3 ReasonJesus Stayed On Earth After His Resurrection Pin It

The Bible verse that confirms that the Lord Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after his resurrection is found in Acts 1:3, which states:

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

After being resurrected, Jesus Christ could have easily revealed Himself to a few people on that day and returned to His Father the same day. However, He didn’t.

So why did Jesus stay so long? I believe His love for his disciples, His love for Peter (the disciple who denied him), and His love for us compelled Jesus to stay for 40 days. Jesus’ love for His Disciples

Jesus’ disciples were discouraged and filled with fear. In John 20:19, we learn that many of the apostles were hiding after Jesus was crucified. However, Jesus spent 40 days with the disciples to not only prove he was alive but to encourage them and strengthen them for the task ahead. Specifically, Jesus spent 40 days with the apostles:

To teach and instruct his disciples: During this time, Jesus continued to teach and instruct his disciples about the kingdom of God and the mission they were to carry out.
To commission his disciples: Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To prepare his disciples for his ascension: Jesus spent this time preparing his apostles for his departure, encouraging them to continue in faith and to await the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Love For Peter, the Disciple who Denied Him

Another reason Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after His resurrection instead of ascending immediately into heaven was to encourage Peter. During Jesus’ trial, Peter denied Jesus three times. After realizing he had failed Jesus, Peter felt guilty and unworthy. During Christ’s time on Earth after His resurrection, Jesus questioned Peter three times in order to restore Peter to his position within church history. It is during this questioning that Christ gave Peter the famous charge to “Feed my sheep” (see John 21:15-19).

Before Jesus Ascended, his love for us his church kept him on earth for 40 days quote by Corine Williams, Ph.D. Like this Post on Facebook

Jesus’ Love For Us, His Church

Jesus' love for us, his church, was another driving force behind his decision to remain on earth for 40 days after his resurrection. He understood that the church was not just a gathering of leaders/disciples but a community of believers who needed his guidance and presence.

The Apostle Paul wrote that “he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living” (1 Corinthians 15:6) which is a clear indication that his love for his followers extended beyond his immediate disciples. This act was a powerful testimony to the validity of his message, and it served to encourage and inspire all those who saw him. This event was recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:6, which states that Jesus "appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time."

Through his love and care for his church, Jesus demonstrated that he was committed to ensuring that his message would continue to be spread throughout the world and one day reach you and I.

You May Also Enjoy: Connecting with God: Exploring the Powerful Prayers of Jesus

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Final Thoughts on Jesus 40 Days

So yes, Jesus could have immediately ascended to heaven after His resurrection. However, He loves us. His love for us caused Him to stay just a little longer here on Earth. Each time I am reminded of God’s love for us, I am overwhelmed. What reminders of Christ’s love have you experienced recently?

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About the Author:

Corine Williams, Ph.D. is Clinical Psychologist that is currently seeing clients in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. You can find out more about her practice by visiting www.therapyforchristians.com/corinewilliams. In addition to providing individual therapy, Dr. Williams is also passionate about writing books and designing merchandise that educate, uplift, and normalize mental health subject in the Christian community. You can find out more about her at www.booksbycorine.com or by visiting her amazon profile here: https://www.amazon.com/Corine-Hyman/e/B00AWZ5FL2

Help us increase mental health awareness in the Christian community by donating through our paypal link here: www.paypal.com/therapyforchristians, joining our mailing list by clicking below, or join our provider list here: Provider listing

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