Resurrection of Jesus and His Ascension – SS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Resurrection is coming back to life after death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ showed his victory over death, and his ascension was his return to heaven after forty days of appearing to his disciples.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain the meaning of resurrection.
2. Name the women disciples who went to the tomb of Jesus.
3. State what Matthew reported about the earthquake and the angel.
4. Describe Mark’s account of the young man at the tomb.
5. State how Luke’s account differs from Mark’s.
6. Describe the ascension of Jesus and state its meaning for Christians.

What are the Bible references for the resurrection and ascension?

• Matthew 28:1-8: the women at the tomb, the earthquake and the angel.
• Mark 16:1-8: the women and the young man in a white robe.
• Luke 24:1-12: the women and the two men in dazzling clothes.
• Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11: the ascension of Jesus.

What is the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection of Jesus is the rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

• Resurrection: coming back to life after death.
• Purpose: it showed his victory over death and proved that his teaching was true.
• Synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke, which tell the story of Jesus in a similar way.
• Women at the tomb: all three gospels report that women disciples found the tomb empty.
• Agreement: the accounts agree on the main event, that Jesus had risen.
• Differences: they differ in details such as the women named, the messengers and the women’s reactions.

Who were the women at the tomb?

The women at the tomb were disciples of Jesus, led by Mary Magdalene, who is named in all three gospels.

• Mary Magdalene: named in all three gospels.
• Mary the mother of James: named in Mark and Luke. Matthew calls her “the other Mary”.
• Salome: named in Mark.
• Joanna: named in Luke, together with other women.

What do the synoptic gospels say about the resurrection?

What is Matthew’s account (Matthew 28:1-8)?

• The visit: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week.
• Earthquake: there was a great earthquake. Only Matthew reports it.
• The angel: an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
• The guards: they shook with fear and became like dead men.
• The message: the angel told the women that Jesus had risen and was going ahead of the disciples to Galilee.
• The women’s reaction: they left quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell the disciples.

What is Mark’s account (Mark 16:1-8)?

• The purpose: the women brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus.
• Their worry: they wondered who would roll away the stone at the entrance of the tomb.
• No earthquake: Mark and Luke do not report any earthquake.
• The stone: they found it already rolled back.
• The messenger: a young man sat on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and the women were amazed.
• His words: “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).
• His instruction: they should tell the disciples and Peter to meet Jesus in Galilee.
• The women’s reaction: they left trembling and astonished and said nothing to anybody, because they were afraid.

What is Luke’s account (Luke 24:1-12)?

• Similar to Mark: the women came with spices and found the stone rolled away.
• Their confusion: they went in and did not find the body, so they were perplexed.
• The messengers: two men in dazzling clothes stood by them. They told the women that Jesus had risen.
• Reminder: the men reminded the women of what Jesus had said while he was still in Galilee.
• The report: the women told the eleven disciples and the others.
• The disciples’ reaction: they did not believe the women. The story seemed like nonsense to them.
• Peter: he ran to the tomb, saw the linen cloths and went home amazed.

How does Luke’s account differ from Mark’s?

Luke follows Mark closely but changes several details about the messengers and what the women did next.

• Messengers: Mark has one young man in a white robe. Luke has two men in dazzling clothes.
• Women named: Mark names Salome. Luke names Joanna instead.
• The message: in Mark the young man tells them to meet Jesus in Galilee. In Luke the men remind them of what Jesus said in Galilee.
• The women’s reaction: in Mark they say nothing to anybody. In Luke they tell the eleven and the others.
• Peter: Luke adds that Peter ran to the tomb and saw the linen cloths. Mark 16:1-8 does not.

How do the three accounts compare?

What is the ascension of Jesus?

The ascension is the going up of Jesus into heaven after his resurrection.

• Time: Acts 1:3 says Jesus appeared to his disciples over forty days.
• Place: Luke 24:50 says he led them out as far as Bethany. Acts 1:12 links the event to the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem.

What happened at the ascension?

1. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit.
2. He told them they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
3. He lifted up his hands and blessed them.
4. He was taken up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
5. Two men in white told the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way.
6. The disciples worshipped him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy and stayed in the temple praising God.

What does the ascension mean for Christians?

• Completed work: it marks the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
• Glory: it shows that Jesus returned to the Father in heaven.
• The Holy Spirit: it prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
• Mission: it sent the disciples out as witnesses.
• Hope: it assures Christians that Jesus will come again.

Evaluation

1. What is resurrection?
2. Name the women disciples who went to the tomb of Jesus in Mark’s account.
3. What did Matthew report that Mark and Luke did not?
4. What did the young man tell the women in Mark 16:6?
5. How did the disciples react when the women told them the news in Luke’s account?

Assignment

1. Write a short account of the resurrection of Jesus as reported by Mark. State one way in which Luke’s account differs from it, and give two lessons Christians learn from the ascension.