Jesus' Instructions To Disciples After Ascension
After his resurrection and before his ascension, Jesus gave his disciples specific instructions and commissions, shaping their future ministry and the early Christian movement. These instructions were delivered over a period of forty days following his resurrection [2, 10].
One of the primary instructions was the Great Commission, which involved spreading the Gospel "into all the world" [9]. This command, given in Galilee, directed the disciples to preach to all nations, a significant expansion from their previous confinement to Judea [9]. This period also served to confirm the truth of his resurrection and the glory of his risen state to the disciples [12]. Augustine notes that Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, greeting them with "Peace be unto you," a salutation of salvation [6].
Jesus had previously prepared his disciples for his departure and subsequent return. He foretold his ascension, stating, "A little while, and you that have seen me so long, and still desire to see me, shall not see me" [7]. He also spoke of sending the Holy Spirit, which would occur fifty days after his resurrection [2, 10]. John Calvin emphasizes that Christ's ascension was for the purpose of filling "all things" (Ephesians 4:10), making his departure more beneficial than his physical presence had been [8]. The Holy Spirit's coming would enable the disciples to fulfill the law with love, rather than seeing it as a burden [10].
The resurrection itself was a cardinal fact and doctrine, central to the gospel message, as without it, faith would be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14) [3]. Jesus had foretold his own resurrection multiple times, including the detail that he would rise on the third day [3, 4]. The evangelists provide circumstantial accounts of these events [3].
Beyond the Great Commission, Jesus' earlier teachings to his disciples also laid foundational principles for their conduct. He instructed them on self-denial, stating, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24) [1]. This self-denial was exemplified by Christ himself and was presented as a test of devotion and a necessity for following him [5]. This principle extended to denying ungodliness, controlling appetites, and abstaining from worldly lusts [5].
The period between the resurrection and ascension was crucial for confirming the disciples' faith and preparing them for their mission. Aquinas notes that Jesus' appearances were sufficient to manifest the truth of his resurrection, allowing them to see, hear, eat with, and even touch him [12]. However, he did not live constantly with them, as this would have obscured the glory of his risen body, which was no longer subject to earthly needs [12]. The disciples were also given the power to nourish others, symbolizing their role in spreading the Word [11].
The instructions given by Jesus after his resurrection and before his ascension were therefore comprehensive, encompassing both the theological understanding of his person and work, and the practical mandate for the disciples' future ministry in the world.
Sources
- Matthew “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. -- Matthew 16:24”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ascension of Christ, The — Prophecies respecting -- Ps 24:7; 68:18; Eph 4:7,8. Foretold by himself -- Joh 6:62; 7:33; 14:28; 16:5; 20:17. Forty days after his resurrection -- Ac 1:3. Described -- Ac 1:9. From Mount Olivet -- Lu 24:50; Mr 11:1; Ac 1:12. While blessing his disciples -- Lu 24:50. When he had atoned for sin -- Heb 9:12; 10:12. Was triumphant -- Ps 68:18. Was to supreme power and dignity -- Lu 24:26; Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. As the forerunner of his people -- Heb 6:20. To intercede -- Ro 8:34; Heb 9:24. To send the Holy Spirit -- Joh 16:7; Ac 2:33. To recei”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection of Christ, The — Foretold by the prophets -- Ps 16:10; Ac 13:34,35; Isa 26:19. Foretold by Himself -- Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Joh 2:19-22. Was necessary to The fulfilment of Scripture. -- Lu 24:45,46. Forgiveness of sins. -- 1Co 15:17. Justification. -- Ro 4:25; 8:34. Hope. -- 1Co 15:19. The efficacy of preaching. -- 1Co 15:14. The efficacy of faith. -- 1Co 15:14,17. A proof of his being the Son of God -- Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4. Effected by The power of God. -- Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12. His own power. -- Joh 2:19; 10:18. The power of”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, LUKE XXIV. 36, "HE HIMSELF STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THEM, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, PEACE BE UNTO YOU," ETC. (part 1): 1. THE Lord appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, as ye have heard, and saluted them, saying, "Peace be unto you."[2] This is peace indeed, and the salutation of salvation: for the very word salutation has received its name from salvation.[3] And what can be better than that Salvation Itself should salute man? For Christ is our Salvation. He is our Salvation, who was wounded for us, and fixed b”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 16:16: Our Lord Jesus, for the comfort of his sorrowful disciples, here promises that he would visit them again. I. Observe the intimation he gave them of the comfort he designed them, Joh 16:16. Here he tells them, 1. That they should now shortly lose the sight of him: A little while, and you that have seen me so long, and still desire to see me, shall not see me; and therefore, if they had any good question to ask him, they must ask quickly, for he was now taking his leave of them. Note, It is good to consider how near to a period our seasons of grace are, that we may b”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 52: ascended “that he might fill all things,” ( Eph. 4:10 ); thus reminding us, that under the appearance of contradiction, there is a beautiful harmony, inasmuch as though he departed from us, it was that his departure might be more useful to us than that presence which was confined in a humble tabernacle of flesh during his abode on the earth. Hence John, after repeating the celebrated invitation, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink,” immediately adds, “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet g”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 16:14: And he said unto them,.... Not at the same time, and place, as before; not on the first day of the week, on which he rose from the dead, but forty days after, just upon his ascension to heaven; see Mar 16:19; nor at Jerusalem, but in Galilee, where be appointed to meet his disciples, and did, when he gave them the following commission; see Mat 28:16. go ye into all the world: not only into Judea, and through all the cities of it, where they had been before confined; nor only into the Roman empire, which is sometimes so called, because great part of the world was unde”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 23.--OF THE MISSION OF THE HOLY GHOST FIFTY DAYS AFTER CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. (part 1): 41. "Thereafter, having confirmed the disciples, and having sojourned with them forty days, He ascended up into heaven, as these same persons were beholding Him. And on the completion of fifty days from His resurrection He sent to them the Holy Spirit (for so He had promised), by whose agency they were to have love shed abroad in their hearts,(2) to the end that they might be able to fulfill the law, not only without the sense of its being burdensome, but”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 2. EXPOSITION OF THE DETAILS OF THE MIRACLE. (part 1): Jesus, then, because of the power which He gave to the disciples, even the power of nourishing others, said, Give ye them to eat.(3) But (not denying that they can give loaves, but thinking that there were much too few and not sufficient to feed those who followed Jesus, and not considering that when Jesus takes each loaf--the Word--He extends it as far as He wills, and makes it suffice for all whomsoever He desires to nourish), the disciples say, We have here but five loaves”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Resurrection, Art. 3: Article: Whether Christ ought to have lived constantly with His disciples after the Resurrection? I answer that, Concerning the Resurrection two things had to be manifested to the disciples, namely, the truth of the Resurrection, and the glory of Him who rose. Now in order to manifest the truth of the Resurrection, it sufficed for Him to appear several times before them, to speak familiarly to them, to eat and drink, and let them touch Him. But in order to manifest the glory of the risen Chr”