The Bible

Jesus dies on the cross

Jesus was crucified on the cross and died a painful death. His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. Mary and Joseph were distraught over the death of their son. They mourned his death for many days.

Jesus is resurrected

Mary and Joseph were devastated when Jesus was crucified. They both grieved and wept for Him. But on the third day, something amazing happened. Jesus was resurrected! He had conquered death!

When Mary and Joseph saw Jesus alive again, they were overjoyed. They couldn’t believe it! They fell down at His feet and worshipped Him.

Jesus then spoke to them and said, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

So Mary and Joseph went to tell the good news to Jesus’ disciples. Can you imagine how they felt? They had seen their Lord and Savior alive again!

Jesus ascends into heaven

Forty days after his resurrection, as his disciples look on, Jesus is taken up, or ascends, into heaven. Luke’s account of the event says that “he was lifted up before their very eyes in a cloud which took him from their sight” (Luke 24:50-51).

Theologian J.I. Packer explains what this means: “[Ascension] does not mean that Jesus floated off into space and is now further away from us physically than he ever was before. Space, as we know it, is a creation of God’s, and is therefore something that exists only within our universe. But Jesus as the eternal Word (John 1:1) existed long before our universe was created; and when it had been created, he entered into it for our salvation (John 1:14). So when he ascended he did not go up into space; rather, he resumed his place at God’s right hand in the spiritual realm which underlies and pervades all physical space and time.”

What are some things we can learn from Jesus’ ascension?

Mary and Joseph

Mary and Joseph are grieving

Mary and Joseph were both deeply grieving after the death of Jesus. Mary was probably feeling a range of emotions, including shock, sadness, confusion, and anger. Joseph may have felt similar emotions, but he would have also been feeling a great deal of guilt. He may have blamed himself for not being able to protect Jesus from crucifixion.

Mary and Joseph meet Jesus after his resurrection

On the morning of the third day, Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb. They were surprised to find that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. Then two angels appeared to them. The angels said, “Why are you looking for Jesus among the dead? He is not here! He is risen from the dead!” (Luke 24:1-6)

Soon after, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Later that day, he also appeared to two of his disciples as they walked on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35)

On Easter Sunday evening, Jesus appeared again, this time to all of his disciples, including Thomas who doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. (John 20:19-31)

Forty days after Easter Sunday, Jesus ascended into heaven in front of his disciples. (Luke 24:50-51)

Mary and Joseph are reunited with Jesus in heaven

After Jesus died on the cross, He was resurrected and ascended into heaven. As for Mary and Joseph, the Bible does not tell us what happened to them after Jesus’ death. However, we can be sure that they are both reunited with Jesus in heaven.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus says, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

So we know that Jesus has prepared a place in heaven for His followers, and we can be confident that Mary and Joseph are with Him there.