What now? At this point, Jesus has finished everything related to his estate of humiliation in his earthly ministry (John 19:30), and he is resurrected from the dead (John 20:9). Jesus insists that he must ascend to his Father (John 20:17), but what about the disciples whom Jesus leaves behind? What comes next for them? How should the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus affect their lives moving forward? After devoting the last few years of their lives to following Jesus, what should they do now?

As we will see in John 20:19–31, Jesus has a specific mission in mind for his disciples. After the ascension, Jesus will not reveal himself to the world visibly, but through the testimony of his disciples. Up to this point, Jesus has borne witness about himself directly (cf. John 8:13–18; 17:6; 18:37). When Jesus ascends to his Father, he will continue to lead his people by his word, he will do so through the power of his Spirit and the his testimony of his church (John 10:14–16; 14:23–24; 16:12–15; 17:11–20). It is not that Jesus will cease to reveal himself to the world after his ascension, but that he will change the way in which he does it: Jesus reveals himself through the proclamation of his word.