I enjoyed reading through acts, but it did have its dry moments I found the different accounts a little confusing, yet they all tied together with the overall theme of the book of “Acts”, which  was: for his disciples to spread the gospel to the surrounding nations. I had a difficult time finding a question to ask without using a spiritual backing. The book is full of miracles that puzzled me and dealt a lot with faith; I tend to try to stay away from those simply because they are hard to find factual proof of any question raised.  I did however ponder on why Jesus chose to stay on earth for forty days after his resurrection. I know had it been me, I would have ascended into heaven immedialty after speaking briefly with my disciples. I could understand a couple of days, but a month and ten days? That is a long time to be in a place that caused him so much harm, and his death. So the question I intend on finding is why did Jesus stay on earth for forty days after his resurrection instead of ascending to heaven?

 

  Upon looking into this issue I like to make my on assumptions, but I am all too familiar with the cliché about making assumptions. I don’t like looking like one so I am not going to assume that I know the reason he chose to stay on earth. I found a lot of sources but only a couple really honed in on the answer that I was searching for. The first source that I pulled from was by Billy Graham, I know he is a well-known preacher but his insight on the issue was really insightful and is caused me to look closely into his theory behind it. This is what he had to say about why Jesus stayed on earth: “One reason Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after His resurrection instead of ascending immediately into heaven was to demonstrate to His followers that He truly was alive. Another reason, however, why Jesus stayed on earth then was to teach His disciples, and prepare them for the task of telling the world about Christ.” http://billygraham.org/answer/why-did-jesus-stay-around-for-40-days-after-he-came-back-from-the-grave-instead-of-going-immediately-into-heaven/    Fascinating! I can imagine being a disciple and hearing about Jesus being alive, they would be a bit skeptical.  I believe Jesus wanted to let his followers know he indeed was alive. All throughout his teaching Jesus told his disciples about spreading the gospel. I still have trouble believing that it took forty days to prove he was alive, and teaching the disciples on how to spread the word of the gospel to the nations. They after all were around him the most so  surely some of that knowledge and teaching style rubbed off on them; but now I want to know what is the significance of forty days?

 

 

   Looking into this question I am reminded of the story about Jesus fasting for forty days and forty nights and that number is mentioned countless other times in the bible so there has to be some significance of its number right?  I stumbled upon a blog that helped piece together the correlation between the numbers.  Here is what the blogger had to say about the number forty: The number forty has long been universally recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence, and the uniformity of its association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement—(not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). It is the product of 5 and 8, and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where Forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.   The following paragraph can be found at the following website: http://belovedheart.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/the-significance-of-the-number-40-in-the-bible/

 

Another great insight into the topic I mentioned earlier. This particular blog two main points really stuck out to me; one being the idea of chastisement of his sons and covenant people. In a sense his disciples did have a covenant with Jesus which I believed they made at the last supper. So could it be he wanted to do this to his disciples during this time period, and was it intended during that time he would teach them how to spread the gospel. I believe so, all the evidence points to this point as well as the text.  The second point that this blog points out is about renewal and revival. During this time the disciple certainly had to be getting renewed by the presence of Jesus, and I am sure their sense of belief was revived simply because their leader had risen and walks among them.

 So with all this information can be gathered about why Jesus did not ascend into heaven immediately following his resurrection. It could be possible that he remained present for two reasons: 1.To show he indeed was alive and well 2. He wanted to teach his disciples on how to spread the gospel.  As far as the whole forty thing goes I am still baffled but I do have theory. My theory is that during those forty days Jesus intended to both prove and teach his disciple about promulgating the gospel, Jesus also used the forty day period accordingly by both chastising the disciples, and renewing and reviving their faith before spreading the gospel.  By doing so Jesus wanted his disciple to have no doubt about who he truly was so I am finally going to conclude that is what made him remain for those infamous forty days.