When we talk about the resurrection of Jesus, we usually stop at the empty tomb. Yes, that moment is huge, death is defeated, hope is alive, and the stone’s rolled away, but the story doesn’t end there. Actually, the days after Jesus rose from the grave are filled with some of the most powerful, intimate moments in all of Scripture. He didn’t just disappear after walking out of the tomb. He stayed for forty days.
It all started early Sunday morning. A group of women,Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and a few others, headed to the tomb. They weren’t expecting resurrection. They were expecting to anoint a dead body, but instead, they found the stone rolled away and an angel telling them He was risen. Mary Magdalene stayed behind, weeping, and then she heard a voice call her name. She turned, and there He was, Jesus. Alive. She tried to cling to Him, overwhelmed with emotion, but He told her not to hold on to Him just yet, He still had more to do.
Later that same day, two of His followers were walking down the road to a village called Emmaus, totally distraught, trying to make sense of everything. A stranger joins them and starts asking questions. They’re like, “Are you the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what happened?” But this stranger, who we find out is Jesus, starts walking them through the entire Old Testament, Moses, the Prophets, all of it, showing how everything pointed to Him. Their hearts burned as He spoke. And when they finally recognized Him during a meal, He vanished.
Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, the disciples are locked away in fear. They’ve heard rumors, but they’re confused and afraid. Suddenly, Jesus appears right in the middle of the room. “Peace be with you,” He says. He shows them His wounds. He eats with them. He breathes the Holy Spirit on them and starts preparing them for what’s coming. It’s not over, He’s still leading them, still teaching them.
One of the disciples, Thomas, wasn’t there that night. When the others tell him what happened, he refuses to believe it unless he sees it for himself. A week later, Jesus appears again. This time, Thomas is there. Jesus invites him to touch His wounds. Thomas doesn’t even need to, he just falls before Him and says, “My Lord and my God.” It’s one of the most beautiful confessions in all of Scripture.
There’s also that unforgettable moment by the Sea of Galilee. The disciples go fishing, probably still unsure about what to do next. They see a man on the shore who tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Suddenly, the net is overflowing with fish. John realizes who it is, “It’s the Lord!” Peter jumps into the water and swims to shore. And there’s Jesus, cooking breakfast. He takes Peter aside and asks him three times, “Do you love me?” It’s no accident, it mirrors the three times Peter denied Him. Each time Peter says yes, Jesus tells him to feed His sheep. He’s not just forgiving Peter, He’s restoring him. Recommissioning him.
Over those forty days, Jesus appears again and again. Luke tells us in Acts 1:3 that He presented Himself alive by “many proofs,” teaching them about the kingdom of God. Paul later writes that Jesus appeared to more than five hundred people at once. These weren’t fleeting visions or dreams. These were real, physical encounters with the risen Christ.
And then, on the fortieth day, Jesus leads His disciples to the Mount of Olives. He gives them final instructions, to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, and then to go out as witnesses to the ends of the earth. As they’re standing there, He lifts His hands, blesses them, and is taken up into heaven. They watch until He disappears from sight. Two angels appear beside them and say, “Why are you standing here looking into the sky? He’ll come back the same way you saw Him go.”
And just like that, the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry is complete. But He hasn’t left them alone. He’s ascended, but He’s still reigning, still building His church, still coming again. That period after the resurrection wasn’t just a victory lap. It was a time of deep, personal preparation. He walked with His people, spoke peace to their fears, healed their doubts, and restored their calling.
Jesus is alive. Still Shepherd. Still King.
