Location Of Jesus After Easter

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Before the Ascension, was He here among us the entire time or commuting between heaven and earth or elsewhere?

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St. Thomas speaks very simply to this question: “It is quite unknown in what places he was bodily present in the meantime, since Scripture is silent, and his dominion is in every place.” (ST III, q.55, a.3, ad 2)

 

We know that Jesus was not continually with the disciples, because St. John makes it clear that our Lord did not dwell with them in the days between the fifth and sixth apparitions – he was not with the Apostles or with any of the disciples during those first six days after Easter, hence St. John says and after eight days indicating that none saw him in the interim. (John 20:26)

 

Further, we know that Jesus did not go up to heaven, but remained in the world. The Saviour did not ascend until the fortieth day, probably stayed for an extended period so as to manifest his resurrection and strengthen his disciples.

 

It seems reasonable to conclude that most of these days were spent in quiet prayer, alone and apart.

 

Further, we can suspect that our Saviour visited his Mother frequently – not so much to prove his resurrection (for she had perfect faith), but rather to give her great cause for joy. Indeed, as a good Son, it seems quite likely that Jesus would have spent a great deal of time with Mary before his ascension.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas writes: “Concerning the Resurrection two things had to be manifested to the disciples, namely, the truth of the Resurrection, and the glory of Him who rose. Now in order to manifest the truth of the Resurrection, it sufficed for Him to appear several times before them, to speak familiarly to them, to eat and drink, and let them touch Him. But in order to manifest the glory of the risen Christ, He was not desirous of living with them constantly as He had done before, lest it might seem that He rose unto the same life as before.” (ST III, q.55, a.3)

Further, it should be added that it was not so much that our Savior wanted to be in other places or had other things “to do”, as though he were too busy to spend time with the Apostles. Rather, it was for the sake of the Apostles’ instruction that he chose not to rest with them continually in bodily form throughout the whole of those forty days.