Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in some countries. In the Bible, Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, he was buried in a tomb. On the third day, which was Sunday, he rose from the dead. This fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah rising from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Jonah 1:17). Jesus’ resurrection showed that he had power over death and had conquered sin. It proved that he was truly the Son of God. His resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
After Jesus rose on Easter Sunday, he appeared to his disciples and followers multiple times over the next 40 days before ascending to heaven (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24, John 20-21, Acts 1:3). The disciples were amazed and overjoyed to see Jesus alive again. The first person Jesus appeared to was Mary Magdalene, who had gone to his tomb to anoint his body with spices. When she saw the empty tomb and then saw Jesus, she immediately ran to tell the disciples the good news (John 20:1-18). Jesus also appeared to two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, and later that evening appeared to the 11 remaining disciples as they met fearfully behind locked doors. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus showed them his resurrected body, complete with the crucifixion wounds (Luke 24:36-43). The disciple Thomas did not believe Jesus had risen until he saw and touched the wounds himself (John 20:24-29). Over the next 40 days, Jesus taught them many things about the kingdom of God and the mission they would have after he ascended to heaven (Acts 1:3). He comforted them and restored Peter, who had denied knowing Jesus three times during his trial and crucifixion.
One key appearance was when Jesus met with his disciples in Galilee and gave them what is called the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). This commission has guided the mission of the Christian church for the past 2,000 years as believers have spread across the globe to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
The book of Acts records several more appearances of Jesus over the 40 days after his resurrection, including one time when he appeared to over 500 disciples at once (Acts 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:6). At one point, he appeared to James, his brother who initially did not believe he was the Messiah but later became a leader in the early church. The last recorded appearance was when Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives while the disciples watched (Acts 1:9-11). As he ascended, angels appeared and promised the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way he departed. This launched the disciples into their Holy Spirit-empowered ministry, with the confidence that Jesus was alive and would be with them always. They had seen their risen Savior face-to-face.
The Bible does not mention Easter Monday specifically. However, it seems likely the disciples spent time together on the Monday after Easter Sunday processing the amazing events of the resurrection and receiving the comfort only Jesus could provide after the trauma they had endured. Seeing Jesus alive after his horrific death on the cross would have brought them unspeakable joy and comfort. Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances removed all doubt that he had conquered the grave and provided the way for eternal life. The disciples finally understood that Jesus had to die and rise again, as he had told them repeatedly beforehand (Luke 24:44-49, John 2:19-22). Everything had changed. As Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). The era of Jesus being physically present on earth was ending, and the era of the Spirit and the ministry of the church was beginning.
The disciples spent 40 days learning from the risen Christ and preparing for their Holy Spirit-empowered ministry to spread the gospel. Easter Monday would have been part of these precious last days with their Savior before his ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It no doubt involved worshipping Christ and gaining clearer understanding of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus used these post-resurrection days to open the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:45). The time between Easter Sunday and Jesus’ ascension was transformational for the disciples as their sorrow turned to joy and they gained new insight into the gospel and God’s plan of redemption.
Easter Monday holds meaning as a remembrance of the resurrected Jesus’ earthly ministry coming to a close and a transitional period for the disciples. Though not mentioned in the Bible, it was part of the momentous 40 days after the resurrection where Jesus prepared his followers to take the gospel to the world. Christmas celebrates Jesus coming to earth as a baby. Easter Sunday celebrates his resurrection. The period between Easter and the Ascension, including that first Easter Monday, remembers his final post-resurrection appearances and teachings before commissioning his disciples and returning in glory to heaven.
The Monday after Easter Sunday is significant because of the life-altering events that occurred the day before. Without Jesus rising from the dead, the Christian faith would be meaningless (1 Corinthians 15:14). The disciples went from cowering behind locked doors on Friday and Saturday to having their risen Lord appear to them on Sunday. Easter Monday represents the “day after” the miracle when the shock began wearing off and the reality set in that Jesus had conquered death forever. They had 40 more days with him to find stability and receive instructions after the chaos of the crucifixion. Easter Monday was part of the comfort Jesus provided his followers after his resurrection, reassuring them that God’s plan had not failed and giving them hope.
While Easter Sunday focuses on celebrating Christ’s resurrection and victory over sin and death, Easter Monday provides a time to reflect on the post-resurrection accounts in Scripture and what it meant for the disciples to see their Savior alive again. They had a front-row seat to the most important event in history – the resurrection that secured eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. Easter Monday can represent for modern believers the disciples’ transition from fear and confusion at the crucifixion to joy and renewed faith at the resurrection. It is a testament to Jesus caring for his followers in his last days on earth before sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to dwell in believers forever.
The days between Easter and Ascension were Jesus’ last chance to teach his disciples before returning to heaven. He used the time to make sure they understood his death and resurrection were part of God’s sovereign plan all along. He opened their minds to the truth (Luke 24:45) and restored Peter after his denials. Seeing Jesus alive was the catalyst they needed to go from hiding in fear to boldly preaching the gospel in the face of persecution. Jesus knew he was leaving them in good hands – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together. The era of his earthly ministry to Israel was complete, and now the gospel would spread across the world, starting with his closest followers. Easter Monday bridges the gap between his resurrection and ascension 40 days later. It gives modern believers a chance to reflect on all Jesus accomplished after the cross for their salvation and how it launched a movement that continues today.
Easter Monday is not an official holiday like Easter Sunday. Sunday was set aside by the early church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection because he rose on the first day of the week. However, the day after Easter still holds spiritual significance. It represents the disciples’ joy at seeing their risen Savior and receiving commission and instruction from him before he physically left them. Jesus used the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension to restore hope and provide convincing proof he had conquered death forever as the Son of God. Easter Monday marked the start of a period of transformation and renewal for the disciples after the darkness of the crucifixion. Jesus cared for them during this time, appearing to them repeatedly to comfort them, assure them, teach them, and commission them for ministry after his departure. Easter Monday is part of the blessed interval between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension when he personally visited his followers, dispelling their doubts and equipping them for their important work of spreading the gospel to the world.
