Between the Resurrection and the Ascension: From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem

Where did Jesus appear to his disciples? Where was he when he ascended? How do the gospels fit in with each other and the book of Acts? Are there reasons for Jesus' geographical choices?

The Evidence:

1. The disciples keep being called 'men of Galilee' in and around the resurrection / ascension / and early days of the church. This designation seems important.

2. The disciples are told several times that they will see Jesus in Galilee after he rose from the dead.

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Matthew 26:32)

(by the angel) Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7)

(by the risen Jesus) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:10)

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Mark 14:28)

(by the young man at the tomb) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' (Mark 16:7)

3. At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives the great commission on a mountain in Galilee.

There is a translation question in the NIV Bible that I just noticed. It could be that they were to go to the mountain that Jesus appointed or the mountain where he had appointed them (ie. Lk 5:12-16; maybe the same mountain as the sermon on the mount)

(NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (Matthew 28:16)

(GNT) Oi˚ de« eºndeka maqhtai« e˙poreu/qhsan ei˙ß th\n Galilai÷an ei˙ß to\ o¡roß ou∞ e˙ta¿xato aujtoi√ß oJ ∆Ihsouvß

(ASV) But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

4. At the end of John's gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples at Lake Galilee and at a near-by location recommissions Peter.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 21:1-4)

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:7)

5. And yet, none of the gospels say that Jesus ascended in Galilee.

6. Luke/Acts does not record any mention of Jesus going to Galilee and yet very clearly that Jesus ascended near Jerusalem, on the mount of Olives.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (Acts 1:11-12)

7. A reconstruction is not impossible, because Jesus appeared to his disciples in many ways and times over a forty day period.

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

8. Luke emphasises, 'remain in Jerusalem' whereas in the other gospels, the disciples are told to go to Galilee.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:4)

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ (Mark 16:7)

A proposed reconstruction:

1. Jesus rose from the dead
2. He met some of his disciples in Jerusalem
3. Jesus wanted all of his disciples to go to Galilee
4. Jesus met them at Galilee
5. They returned to Jerusalem
6. He met them in Jerusalem
7. He urged them to stay in Jerusalem after he departs until they receive the Holy Spirit
8. He ascends in the clouds just outside Jerusalem at the mount of Olives
9. They now begin to witness to Jesus throughout the world


A theory I've just thought about:

Why Galilee? Why Jerusalem? Why the mount of Olives?

I wonder whether post resurrection, Jesus is taking the disciples on the same journey they have already been on (or more particularly - that he had already been on).

1.He takes them back to Galilee, to the mountain where perhaps he commissioned them. He recommissions Peter at Galilee, calls them to be fishers of men, and calls them to feed his sheep.

2. He takes them to the mount of Olives which is the location of the night before Jesus died, he cried in agony to his father. It was also the mountain on which most of his disciples deserted him. Now they did not want him to desert them.

3. Then he tells them to remain in Jerusalem, where he was killed and rose again. And where all scripture had to be fulfilled in Jesus' betrayal, death, resurrection and where forgiveness of sins would now be preached.

What an amazing journey to go through a second time. From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem again.



I had these thoughts on the train today as I was preparing my youth church talk for Sunday. I'm leaving these all out of my talk for Sunday - I think they'd all thank me for that. ;)

Love to hear your thoughts.