What Jesus Taught His Apostles During the 40 Days After His Resurrection

After rising from the dead, Jesus did not immediately ascend into heaven. Instead, He remained on earth for forty days, appearing to His apostles and followers. These days were deeply intentional. Jesus used this time to strengthen their faith, clarify their understanding, and prepare them for the mission that would change the world forever. What He taught during this period became the foundation of the Christian Church.

Jesus Proved He Was Truly Alive

One of the first things Jesus focused on was removing all doubt about His resurrection. The apostles were terrified and confused after His crucifixion. When Jesus appeared to them, He showed them His wounds, spoke with them, and even ate food in their presence. He wanted them to know He was not a ghost or vision - He was physically alive. Thomas, who doubted, was invited to touch His scars. This personal encounter changed Thomas forever. These moments were essential because the apostles would later face persecution and even death for their faith. Jesus made sure they had undeniable proof that He had conquered death.

Jesus Explained the Scriptures in a New Way

During these forty days, Jesus helped the apostles understand the Bible more deeply than ever before. He opened their minds to see how the Old Testament pointed directly to Him. Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms all foretold the coming Messiah. Jesus showed them how His suffering, death, and resurrection fulfilled God’s plan. This gave them confidence to preach, teach, and defend the faith. They no longer saw Scripture as a collection of stories - they now understood it as one unified message leading to Christ.

Teaching About the Kingdom of God

The Bible tells us that Jesus spent this time speaking about the Kingdom of God. He taught them that God’s kingdom was not political or earthly, but spiritual and eternal. He explained how the Church would grow, how believers should live, and how God’s love would transform hearts. The apostles learned that their mission was not to seek power, but to serve others and bring souls to God. This teaching shaped the way Christianity spread across the world.

Preparing Them for Their Mission

Jesus made it clear that their lives were about to change. He gave them the Great Commission - to go into all nations, preach the Gospel, baptize believers, and teach everything He had taught them. He prepared them for hardship, rejection, and suffering. He warned them they would be hated for His name, but encouraged them to remain faithful. Jesus wanted them to understand that following Him was not easy, but it was worth everything.

Promising the Holy Spirit

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem. He promised they would soon receive the Holy Spirit. This was critical because He knew they could not fulfill their mission on their own strength. The Holy Spirit would give them courage, wisdom, and power. This promise was fulfilled on Pentecost, when the apostles were filled with the Spirit and boldly preached to thousands. What once scared them no longer controlled them.

Restoring and Strengthening Their Hearts

Jesus also used this time to heal and restore His apostles emotionally and spiritually. He forgave Peter for denying Him and reaffirmed his leadership. He taught them humility, love, and unity. He reminded them that true leadership meant serving others. These personal moments helped the apostles grow not only as teachers, but as men of faith and compassion.

Everything Jesus taught during these forty days laid the foundation for the Christian Church. He gave them truth, confidence, and purpose. When He finally ascended into heaven, the apostles were no longer afraid. They were ready. They knew what to preach, how to live, and where their strength came from. Jesus turned ordinary men into world-changing leaders.