Resurrection & Ascension

Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension

Christians believe that 3 days after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead and was eventually witnessed ascending back up to heaven.

Resurrection

The Gospels record that Jesus appeared a number of times to his disciples after the resurrection.
The same historical accounts confirm that the early Christians preached their belief in Jesus’ resurrection.
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared in a different form, his resurrected body, and was able to appear and disappear at will.

Ascension

Eventually, the disciples witnessed Jesus ascending back up to heaven, leaving them to continue his work on earth.
At the ascension, Jesus entrusted the apostles with the tasks of continuing to preach the Gospel and building his Church.

Proof of Jesus' divinity

The resurrection confirmed for Christians that Jesus was divine, because only God has the power to rise from the dead. As the Son of God, Jesus’ teachings are given a much greater authority.
The resurrection also confirmed the possibility of life after death and encourages Christians to live a good life so they can also go to heaven after they die.
- ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”’ [John 11:25-26 NIV]

Not accepted by all

Some Christians do not accept the bodily resurrection of Jesus and say that the idea of Jesus being alive again is not to be taken literally.
Rather, they think it means that the memory of him remained alive in the hearts of his followers and that it inspired them to continue his work. In this view, the resurrected ‘body’ of Jesus is seen metaphorically to be the Church.

1Buddhism

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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