Jesus and the 40-day Post-Resurrection Ministry

[iThinkStuff]

Hi all,

Doing some Bible study today and I tripped over Acts 1:3 and references to Jesus appearing to his disciples for 40 days after His resurrection and before his ascension. The text indicates He spent his time teaching them about the kingdom of God, proving He was alive, and generally ministering to them.

I'm curious - do we have any literature that delves into that subject matter more deeply? I seem to recall there were some Dead Sea Scrolls or Qumran society texts that might have dealt with that 40 day period, but I'm struggling for sources and wondering if y'all know of anything that has been published on the subject. I assume that may imply that the sources are apocryphal or less than standard.

As a side note, I find that number 40 quite interesting. 40 day fast in the wilderness, 40 years the Israelites wandered, 40 day post-resurrection ministry... I believe there are others, too.

Anyway, thanks in advance!
iTS

 

[kyredneck]

As a side note, I find that number 40 quite interesting. 40 day fast in the wilderness, 40 years the Israelites wandered, 40 day post-resurrection ministry... I believe there are others, too.

Four, forty, four hundred, number of trial, probation, judgement. I find the whole topic of numerology interesting.

 

[Alex2165]

Dead Sea Scrolls deal only with the Old Testament, but number 40, just like some other numbers; 3, 7, 8, 12, 70, each and every one of them has a special significance and certain symbolic importance.

Nobody knows for sure what these numbers represent, may be something in Heaven, or something memorable or important for GOD, no one knows exactly, but we take them as is, believing that sooner or later the secrets of these number and many other things that are hidden from us now will be open to those who will enter the Kingdom of GOD.

GOD has no secrets from His people.

Here are some places of the Bible with #40

Genesis 7.4.12.17, 8.6, 18.29, 25.20, 26.34, 50.3

Exodus 16.35, 24.18, 34.28

Deuteronomy 2.7, 9.9.18, 25.3

Joshua 5.6, 14.7

Judges 3.11, 5.8.31, 8.28

1Samuel 4.18, 13.1, 17.16

2Samuel 2.10, 5.4, 15.7

1Kings 2.11, 11.42, 19.8

2Kings 12.1

1Chron 29.27

2Chron.9.30, 24.1

Nehemiah 9.21

Psalm 95.10

Ezekiel 4.6, 29.11-13

Amos 2.10, 5.25

Jonah 3.4

Matthew 4.2

Mark 1.13

Luke 4.2

Acts 1.3, 7.23.30.36.42, 13.18.21

Hebrews 3.9.17

 

[Crimson12]

Christians do themselves a terrible injustice by not knowing our Jewish heritage. I said this because I myself don’t know it will enough but reading your post I had to check the internet about Yom Kippur. Honestly messed up and check the Feast of Unleavened Bread first. The 1st of the month before Yom Kippur that is Ehul 1 is the beginning of the 40 days Repentance of Teshuvah which ends on Tishri 10–Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement.
These days of Repentance are day to reflect on one Spiritual life and your past actions of the year. So perhaps Jesus 40 days could correspond to this, because thanks to His resurrection our pass actions are forgiven and we have a new eternal life because He was the beginning of the New Creation of God, Revelation 3:14.

 

[iThinkStuff]

Christians do themselves a terrible injustice by not knowing our Jewish heritage. I said this because I myself don’t know it will enough but reading your post I had to check the internet about Yom Kippur. Honestly messed up and check the Feast of Unleavened Bread first. The 1st of the month before Yom Kippur that is Ehul 1 is the beginning of the 40 days Repentance of Teshuvah which ends on Tishri 10–Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement.
These days of Repentance are day to reflect on one Spiritual life and your past actions of the year. So perhaps Jesus 40 days could correspond to this, because thanks to His resurrection our pass actions are forgiven and we have a new eternal life because He was the beginning of the New Creation of God, Revelation 3:14.

I agree 100%. I actually bought a "Jewish Bible" with Rabbinic commentary (Artscroll Tanach) and it's kinda fun to learn some of the history that goes along with their traditions. There's depth there, depth that our Savior was probably very familiar with on a personal level. It's very much worth learning.