Resurrection narratives and the ascension

Biblical Studies (9484) · Cambridge International AS Level · 6 min read · Updated: Sep 7, 2026

Introduction: The Greatest Mystery

Welcome! You have reached the final part of Jesus’ story in the Gospels. After the darkness of the crucifixion and burial, we come to the most important part of the Christian faith: the Resurrection and the Ascension. In this chapter, we will explore how each of the four Gospels describes the moments when Jesus’ followers discovered he was alive and how he eventually returned to heaven.

For your exam, the focus is on the resurrection appearances in detail across all four gospels. Don't worry if the stories seem slightly different at first—each Gospel writer (Evangelist) had a unique audience and a specific message they wanted to share!

1. The Empty Tomb: The First Discovery

Each Gospel begins the resurrection story with a visit to the tomb on the first day of the week (Sunday). While they agree on the big picture, the details vary. This is a common area for AO1 (Knowledge) questions where you might need to outline the events.

The Women at the Tomb

Matthew 28:1-8: Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" go to the tomb. There is a great earthquake, and an angel descends to roll back the stone. The guards are paralyzed with fear.
Mark 16:1-8: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bring spices. They find the stone already rolled away and see a young man in a white robe inside.
Luke 24:1-12: A larger group of women finds the stone rolled away. Two men in dazzling clothes appear. When the women tell the apostles, the men think it is an "idle tale," though Peter runs to check.
John 20:1-10: Mary Magdalene goes alone while it is still dark. She see the stone removed and runs to tell Peter and the "Beloved Disciple." They race to the tomb; the Beloved Disciple reaches it first, but Peter enters first. They see the linen wrappings but no Jesus.

The Guards' Report (Matthew 28:11-15)

Only Matthew mentions that the guards went to the chief priests to report what happened. The priests bribed the soldiers to say that the disciples stole the body while they were asleep. This was Matthew’s way of answering Jewish arguments that the resurrection was a hoax.

Quick Review: Every Gospel mentions Mary Magdalene as a witness. This is historically significant because, in the first century, the testimony of women was often not legally recognized. Including them suggests the writers were recording what actually happened rather than making up a "perfect" story!

2. The Resurrection Appearances

This is the "core" of this chapter. You need to know which stories belong to which Gospel.

Matthew: Authority and the Great Commission

The Road (28:8-10): Jesus meets the women as they run from the tomb. They grab his feet and worship him.
The Mountain (28:16-20): Jesus meets the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. He gives them the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." He promises to be with them "to the end of the age."

Mark: The "Longer Ending" (16:9-18)

Most scholars note that Mark 16:9-18 is a later addition. It summarizes appearances to Mary Magdalene, two disciples walking in the country, and the eleven. It emphasizes the disbelief of the disciples and Jesus’ command to preach the gospel to all creation.

Luke: The Physical and Scriptural Proof

The Road to Emmaus (24:13-35): Two followers (one named Cleopas) walk with a "stranger" and discuss the crucifixion. Jesus explains how the Old Testament prophecies pointed to his suffering. They only recognize him when he breaks bread.
Appearance to the Eleven (24:36-49): Jesus appears in a room. To prove he isn't a ghost, he invites them to touch him and eats a piece of broiled fish. This shows his resurrection was physical, not just a vision.

John: Personal Encounters

Mary Magdalene (20:11-18): Mary stands weeping at the tomb. She thinks Jesus is the gardener until he calls her name: "Mary."
Thomas (20:24-29): Thomas refuses to believe until he can touch Jesus’ wounds. A week later, Jesus appears and invites him to do so. Thomas exclaims, "My Lord and my God!"
The Breakfast by the Sea (21:1-25): Jesus helps the disciples catch 153 fish and cooks breakfast for them. He specifically speaks to Peter, asking "Do you love me?" three times to restore Peter after his three denials.

Memory Aid: Use the acronym ETEP for the main themes of the appearances:
E - Emmaus (Luke)
T - Thomas (John)
E - Eating/Physicality (Luke/John)
P - Peter's Restoration (John)

3. The Ascension

The Ascension is the moment Jesus leaves the physical world to return to his Father in heaven. This marks the end of his earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church's mission.

Mark 16:19-20: Briefly states that Jesus was "taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." It notes that the disciples then went out and preached everywhere.
Luke 24:50-53: Jesus leads the disciples to Bethany. As he blesses them, he withdraws and is carried into heaven. The disciples return to Jerusalem with great joy and stay in the Temple praising God.

Did you know? In Luke's account, the Ascension isn't a sad goodbye. The disciples are full of joy because they realize Jesus’ departure means he is now reigning in power and his promise to stay with them is beginning.

4. Analysis and Evaluation (AO2)

In your exam, you may be asked to discuss or evaluate why the accounts differ or how significant they are. Here are some key points to consider:

Why are there differences?

Critics sometimes argue that the differences (e.g., one angel vs. two) mean the stories are unreliable. However, students of Biblical Studies can argue:

Perspective: Just like four witnesses to a car accident see different details, the Gospel writers focused on what mattered most to their specific purpose.
Theology: Matthew wanted to show Jesus as the New Moses (on a mountain); Luke wanted to show the fulfillment of Scripture; John wanted to show personal faith.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing up the Gospels: Don't say Thomas appears in Matthew! Keep the specific stories attached to the correct writer.
Forgetting the "Why": Don't just retell the story. Explain that the appearances were meant to overcome the disciples' doubt and commission them for work.
Ignoring the physical aspect: Remember that Luke and John go to great lengths to show Jesus was not a ghost (eating fish, touching wounds).

Final Key Takeaways

1. Context: The Resurrection is the "vindicating" event—it proves Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God were true.

2. Transformation: The accounts show a change in the disciples from fearful and hiding to joyful and ready to change the world.

3. Detailed Study: For Paper 1, you must be able to compare how all four Gospels handle the resurrection appearances specifically.

Don't worry if this seems like a lot of names and locations! Focus on the "big" unique stories in each Gospel first, then look for the themes they all share.

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What are the key differences in how the four Gospels describe the divine messengers at the empty tomb?

Matthew describes one angel and an earthquake; Mark mentions a young man in a white robe; Luke describes two men in dazzling clothes; and John notes that Mary Magdalene initially finds the tomb empty after seeing the stone removed.

What was the purpose of the 'Guards' Report' mentioned specifically in Matthew 28?

The report explains that chief priests bribed the guards to claim the disciples stole Jesus' body, serving as Matthew's apologetic response to Jewish arguments that the resurrection was a hoax.

What is the significance of Mary Magdalene being the first witness to the resurrection in all four Gospels?

It adds historical credibility because the testimony of women was often not legally recognized in the first century, suggesting the authors were recording actual events rather than a fabricated story.

What is the 'Great Commission' in Matthew's resurrection account?

It is Jesus' final command to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee to 'make disciples of all nations' and baptize them, promising his presence until the end of the age.

How does the 'Longer Ending' of Mark (16:9-18) differ from the main narrative?

It is widely considered a later addition that summarizes several appearances and emphasizes the disciples' initial disbelief and the command to preach to all creation.

What happens during the 'Road to Emmaus' encounter in Luke's Gospel?

Jesus walks with two disciples and explains how Old Testament prophecies predicted his suffering; they recognize him only when he breaks bread with them.

Why does Luke's Gospel emphasize Jesus eating broiled fish after the resurrection?

It serves as physical proof that Jesus was not a ghost or a mere vision, but had been raised in a physical body.

What is the significance of the encounter between Jesus and Thomas in John's Gospel?

It addresses the theme of doubt and leads to the highest Christological confession in the Gospels: 'My Lord and my God!'

In John 21, why does Jesus ask Peter 'Do you love me?' three times?

It is intended to restore Peter to his leadership role after he denied Jesus three times during the passion.

How does the Ascension differ between the accounts in Mark and Luke?

Mark briefly notes Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, while Luke describes a blessing at Bethany and the disciples returning to the Temple with great joy.

How can students explain the differences between the four resurrection accounts in an academic context?

The differences are attributed to the unique theological goals of each Evangelist and their specific target audiences, rather than a lack of reliability.

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