10 Miracles of Jesus after the Resurrection

We Christians tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection as if nothing happens after the resurrection. This article explores the supernatural events that took place after Jesus died before he ended up in the right hand of God in Heaven. Truly, his work of atonement was completed on the cross because Jesus himself said, "It is finished," meaning he has completed the work that God the Father gave him to do on earth. However, there were things Jesus did in the supernatural realm after his death on the cross that we sometimes over look because we do not want to preach that Jesus was still fulfilling prophecy even after his death on the cross. Here are the tracings of the Ten Supernatural Footsteps (Miracles) of Christ as his journey continued after the cross.

First- Jesus Visited Hades: The popular Christian creed said, "Jesus descended to hell." Actually, Jesus did not descend to hell, but he descended to Hades. Jesus himself prophesied his trip to this location while in the spirit form. He was considered by earthly term as being physically dead but spiritually alive while his body was in the grave. It is therefore erroneous to think that Jesus died in the spirit while on the cross. He died in the human flesh that clothed his spirit, but he did not die in the spirit. Prior to coming out of the physical body on the cross, he temporarily handed his spirit to God the Father as he (Jesus) was breaking out of the flesh. The process of death leads to the separation of the body and the spirit which are attached together by the "Silver Cord." Like any other person during the process of death, the attachment of the human spirit to the body has to be broken. Once this has taken place the person’s spirit can no longer return to the body. Similarly, Jesus did exactly the same thing breaking the silver cord and taking on the invisible body of the spirit while his earthly body was still in the grave.

In his spirit body Jesus went to visit Hades for the three days he was in the grave. When Jesus was describing this supernatural event of his visit, he did not call the location Hades, he referred to it as, "the body of the earth."

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a fish, so the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (St. Matthew 12:40).

Similarly when Jesus said to the thief, "Assuredly, I say to you, today, thou shall be with me in Paradise" (St. Luke 23:43), he was not talking about Heaven, Jesus was referring to this particular location in the body of the earth. Today with references from the Bible especially the book of Psalms, many Christians believe that the location Jesus was referring was beneath the physical earth.

Second - Preaching to the Dead Souls: What was Jesus doing in Hades? He did not go there to suffer like some people claimed. Neither did he go there to announce his resurrection like some theologians have alluded. According to the undisputable word of God, Jesus went to preach the gospel message to the souls held in captivity in prison. Peter, the head of the disciples who was with Jesus documented this account when he said,

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also he went to preach to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient" (I Peter 3:18-19).

"For this reason, the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, and they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit" (I Peter 4:6).

According to Peter, those who died and did not get to hear the gospel were given the opportunity to hear the message directly from Jesus for the purpose of repentance. Before Christ’s resurrection, there were many compartments beneath the earth, some for the saints and some for sinners. Jesus gave the illustration of these compartments in the story of Lazarus and the rich man in St. Luke 16:19-31. In that story, paradise was still beneath the earth, and the rich man while being tormented in Hades asked Abraham to ask Lazarus to give him some water. This was impossible for Abraham to do because there was a big gulf between Hades and Paradise. So, Hades referenced the unpleasant compartment beneath the earth. However after Jesus’ resurrection he changed the location of Paradise and took it to the third Heaven.

Third – Journey to the Third Heaven: After Jesus left Hades, he took with him all the saints who have died before his resurrection and those who repented after his preaching to the spirits in prison. Jesus took them with him to Heaven. By this action, Jesus opened up the Gates of Paradise for the first time for the former earthly dwellers. Paul beautifully captured this supernatural journey by Jesus in his letter to Ephesians.

"When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Now this he ascended, what does it mean, but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the Heavens, that he might fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers" (Ephesians 4:8-11).

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave, and I will redeem them from death" (Hosea 13:14).

King David in his prophetic Psalm regarding Jesus referenced this rescue mission of Jesus in rescuing souls from Hades.

"You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive. You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious" (Psalm 68:18).

"For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy one to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10).

Even Peter referenced this Psalm in his sermon in the book of Acts while preaching to the multitude of people after the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Peter said that particular Psalm of David was referring to his prophecy about Jesus’ resurrection – Acts 2:22-36. In this context the scripture plays two roles. David’s Psalm not only predicted what would happen to Jesus, that the power of grave could not hold him, that he would be resurrected after death. It also referenced King David’s expectation that the saints would not stay forever in Sheol, that Jesus would one day rescue them. So the resurrection of Jesus became a foreshadowing of what would happen to David and other saints after the resurrection of Christ, that Jesus would take them all to Heaven with him. For this reason Jesus said,

"Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death" (Rev 1: 17-18).

Fourth – Stopover in Earthly Realm: On the way to Heaven, Jesus had a momentary stopover on earth. At this moment was when the earthly people experienced the resurrection of Jesus. In this process Jesus had to change his invisible form to a visible form. Jesus’ body was resurrected and transformed at the same time. So, he put on a different body with the shadow reflection of his previous image while on earth. The physical outfit (physical body) Jesus was wearing was not the same as the physical outfit (physical body) he had while on earth. At resurrection Jesus was in his transformed body. He was able to go through walls and disappear and appear at will, expressing the magic of his supernatural existence after resurrection. After Jesus picked up his transformed body from the grave, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.

"Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and you Father, and to my God and your God’" (St. John 20:17).

Jesus asked Mary not to touch him because he still has not ascended to God the Father. This was very important because there was yet something very special and supernatural Jesus had to do before allowing the earthly people to touch him. He had to remain in a purified state of existence to perform this ritual in a supernatural existence without being stained by the sins of the world. But he sent Mary to announce to his disciples that he was raised from the dead.

Fifth - Taking Paradise to the Third Heaven: After a momentary stopover on earth, in his transformed body, Jesus ascended to Heaven with the souls (spirits) of those with him. Jesus continued his journey to Heaven. Once Jesus did this, he took Paradise from beneath the earth, and high into the third Heaven. He opened up the heavenly Paradise for the first time for former earthly beings arrived in Heaven. Jesus therefore supernaturally transferred the location of Paradise to Heaven where God lives.

"I am going to prepare a place for you. After I have prepared a place for you, I will come and receive you to myself, and where I am, you may be also" (St. John 14:2-3).

Sixth - Duty As the High Priest: What did Jesus do after he opened up Paradise? Jesus performed one of the most important duties as our High Priest in the supernatural. Jesus entered the Almighty Temple in Heaven. He entered the Holy of the holiest of the tabernacle in Heaven where the real Ark of Covenant was placed – Rev 11:19. He performed his duty as our High Priest for us. In this process, Jesus carrying his blood, sprinkled the mercy seat of the real Ark of Covenant in Heaven to wipe out all our sins to reconcile us back to God. In the earthly realm from the book of the Old Testament, high priests used to enter into the Holy of the Holiest on earth to perform this ritual once a year. Jesus only had to do this in Heaven once for all sinners.

This is one of the major miracles Jesus performed after his resurrection in the supernatural to redeem sinners from their sins and reconcile them back to God. This was captured so well in the book of Hebrew.

"Christ as High Priest of the good times to come . . . . with his own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrew 9:11-12)

"For Christ has not entered the Holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into Heaven itself, now appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrew 9:24).

Seventh –Re-appearance on earth: After Jesus performed his duty as the High Priest in Heaven before God the Father, he came back down again into the physical world. He made many appearances to his disciples at different times. In his transformed body he was able to walk through walls while the door was closed he stood the in the midst of his disciples. They were scared and amazed!

When the doors were closed, where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you" (St. John 20:19).

Eighth - Miracle of the Fish: After Jesus resurrected, some of his disciples were still dazed not realizing the full capacity of what had happened and how Jesus had changed their lives forever. In the midst of this confusion, Peter went fishing and took some disciples with him including John. They wanted to go back to their old profession. This was however contrary to what Jesus told them. In so many words Jesus told them to get ready to for the ministry, to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father which was the Holy Spirit.

"As Father has sent me, so I also send you" (St. John 20:21).

"Behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with the power from on high" (St. Luke 24:49)

When Peter took other disciples into the fishing boat, he was being disobedient to the Lord Jesus. One of the miracles that night was that they caught no fish. In the morning Jesus appeared at the scene.

And Jesus said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some" (St. John 21:6). According to the Bible after they obeyed what Jesus said, they were able to catch multitude of fish. Following this incident by the seaside, John hinted everybody in the boat that the person speaking to them was Jesus. This led to the very interesting conversation between Peter and Jesus regarding Peter’s disobedience. When they came to the shore, Jesus first gave them breakfast and asked Peter one question. "Simon the son of Jonah, do you love me?" (St. John 21:15). Of course Peter’s answer was positive. But Jesus asked Peter the same question three times invoking guilt in Peter. The Bible said Peter was grieved. At that point Peter knew what Jesus was telling him. Instead of Jesus scolding Peter, he had a nice way to tell Peter not to get into that boat again, but to get ready for the ministry work ahead of them. In the book of Acts, it became obvious how this conversation between Jesus and Peter set Peter in the right direction for the mission work.

Ninth - Ascension Day: Forty days after resurrection and Jesus has finished appearing and instructing his disciples, he led them out as far as Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them – St. Luke 24: 50. As he was speaking to them he was being taken up to Heaven before their eyes. The cloud received him out of their sight – Acts 1:9. Then, there were angels who stood by and spoke to Jesus’ disciples as he was being taken up to Heaven.

"Men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven will so come in the like manner as you saw him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11).

Tenth - Day of Pentecost: When the day of Pentecost arrived the disciples and others praying together in one accord. Then the Holy Spirit came upon all of them, and they were all able to speak in foreign languages – foreign tongues. According to Peter, Jesus received the Holy Spirit from God the Father. Jesus then re-entered the earthly realm, and poured out the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

"Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you now see and hear" (Acts 2:33).

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Why Did Jesus Go to the Cross?

In tracing the footsteps of the Jewish Rabbi known as Jesus, after his death it became obvious he did many miracles after his death and after his resurrection as well. But, why did he go to the cross? I am sure many will tell the story of the redemption, the reconciliation, the shedding of blood, and the remission of sins. All these are salient reasons from one major issue that we sometimes over look in the Bible context. Jesus said, "I am Alpha et Omega, the beginning and the end" (Rev. 1:11). Meaning, the Lord God will reveal the end from the beginning. In modern term, our tomorrow starts from today, or today will shape our tomorrow. Jesus went to the cross because of the incident that happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned against God. When God appeared at the Garden, he asked Adam, what happened? Adam answered and said, "The woman you gave me" (Genesis 3:12). In other words, Adam was blaming God for giving him the woman. Evidently, God was accused! God was never happy for being accused. When God asked Eve, she answered and said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate" (Genesis 3:13). At this point God the Father ended his interrogatory questioning because he knew the devil’s nature from the beginning. What was the devil going to say anyway? Although God knew man’s tendency to sin, by questioning both Adam and Eve, he established their sins before them subsequent to their punishment.

In the story at the Garden of Eden, neither Adam nor Eve and definitely not the serpent took responsibility for what had happened. The clear point in the story was God himself was unjustly blamed for the whole incident. Since nobody took responsibility for what happened, God stepped into the situation and accepted responsibility for what happened. However, whoever accepted the responsibility for the sins must also accept the punishment for the sins committed. God himself unjustly received the punishment. That was the reason why God accepted the punishment to receive the penalty of death in payment of the sins committed by man. God therefore created a plan of salvation to redeem man back to himself by allowing his only son to die a shameful death penalty given to a guilty person. That was the primary reason why Jesus went to the cross. Jesus was God incarnate. He came to pay for the sins of humanity as a perfect sacrifice for the remission of sins. Since the penalty of sin is death and Jesus already paid for that part of our punishment, no sins goes unpunished. However to be redeemed, you must accept Jesus Christ as one and the only personal Savior, and no other! In theological term we say, Jesus paid for all our sins. This does not remove us from our own personal responsibility about sin, because the consequences of our sins remain. This is why it is very unwise for people who claimed they are saved to keep sinning. As a believer, if you keep sinning, you may not lose your salvation, but you will experience hell on earth as a consequence of your continuous sins against God.

Therefore the story of the cross is a love story of God; the Daddy with a big heart for his children.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life" (St. John 3:16).

By ‘Yinka Vidal, Author, Closer Walk With Jesus

Related Article: Who Murdered the Son of God?

Note: If this tracing of the footsteps of Jesus do not convince you about his resurrection, nothing else would.