The resurrection and ascension of Jesus
Resurrection
After his death, Jesus鈥 body was taken down from the cross and placed into a rock tomb with a heavy stone covering its entrance.
When his female followers, including Mary MagdaleneOne of the female followers of Jesus who were the first to meet him after his resurrection., visited the tomb the Sunday after his crucifixion, they saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. Inside, Jesus鈥 body was missing.
In the garden surrounding the tomb, there appeared a man dressed in white. The women pled with him to return Jesus鈥 body, but the man explained that he was Jesus. Mary Magdalene returned to the disciples to tell them the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Christians call these events the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is mentioned in the gospelThe teachings of Jesus and the apostles. as appearing many times over the next 40 days.
Why do you look for the living amongst the dead? He is not here; he has risen!
Ascension
Jesus greeted and blessed his disciples 40 days after his resurrection. He appeared and said:
Peace be to you. Then said he to Thomas, reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
He then ascensionFor Christians, when Jesus went up to Heaven 40 days after he rose from the dead. to Heaven. The resurrection and ascension of Jesus prove to Christians that he is the Son of God. His sacrificeThe act of giving something precious to another person or to God. overcame sin and offers humans hope of eternal life.
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.