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New
New
Year 10
AQA

The resurrection and ascension

I can explain Christian beliefs about the resurrection and ascension of Jesus including the importance and influence of these beliefs today.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

The resurrection and ascension

I can explain Christian beliefs about the resurrection and ascension of Jesus including the importance and influence of these beliefs today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The resurrection refers to Jesus coming back to life after his crucifixion.
  2. The Gospels state that Jesus' tomb was found empty, with differing accounts of his first appearance.
  3. The ascension refers to Jesus going up into heaven 40 days after he resurrected.
  4. Many Christians view the resurrection and ascension as proof of the afterlife.
  5. The resurrection and ascension are important to many Christians today and impact their beliefs and actions

Keywords

  • Ascension - going or being taken up; the event forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in heaven

  • The resurrection - the event three days after the crucifixion when it is believed that God raised Jesus from the dead

  • Salvation - being saved; belief that through God’s grace, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about salvation for humanity

Common misconception

Jesus ascended immediately after his resurrection.

Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection according to the New Testament.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The resurrection and ascension, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to remind students of Christian beliefs about resurrection and the afterlife during learning cycle 3.
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Adult supervision recommended

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Jesus was forced to carry his own before his crucifixion.
Correct Answer: cross, Cross
Q2.
The disciple denied knowing Jesus three times.
Correct Answer: Peter, peter
Q3.
How did Jesus describe the bread at the Last Supper?
His blood
Correct answer: His body
His salvation
Q4.
Why do many Christians believe the crucifixion was important?
It was an example of courage.
It proved Jesus’ innocence.
Correct answer: It led to salvation and atonement.
Q5.
Jesus was accused of by the Jewish leaders.
Correct Answer: blasphemy, Blasphemy
Q6.
Many Christians believe Jesus’ death allows with God.
Correct Answer: atonement, Atonement

6 Questions

Q1.
Put the following events in the correct order.
1 - Jesus’ crucifixion
2 - Jesus’ resurrection
3 - Jesus appears to his followers.
4 - Jesus’ ascension into heaven
Q2.
Match each term to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:Resurrection,Jesus coming back to life after his crucifixion
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Jesus coming back to life after his crucifixion

Correct Answer:Ascension,Jesus being taken up to heaven 40 days after his resurrection
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Jesus being taken up to heaven 40 days after his resurrection

Correct Answer:Salvation,being saved from sin and its consequences
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being saved from sin and its consequences

Q3.
According to Christian belief, how long after his resurrection did Jesus ascend into heaven?
3 days
7 days
Correct answer: 40 days
Q4.
According to 1 Corinthians 15, how many people did Jesus appear to after his resurrection?
Correct answer: 500
100
12
Q5.
What does the resurrection demonstrate to Christians?
That Jesus was only a prophet.
Correct answer: That good triumphs over evil and life over death.
That Jesus died and will not return.
Q6.
What is one reason Christians believe the ascension is important?
Correct answer: It marks the completion of Jesus’ time on Earth.
It confirms that Jesus was human.
It proves that Jesus never died.