Timeline of Events
Jesus died on Wednesday, April 5 in 30 A.D. and was placed in his tomb just before sunset which was about 6 p.m. (Mark 15:42 - 46). He is brought back to life near sunset on Saturday, April 8 in perfect fulfillment of his own prophecy!
For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights (72 hours total!), in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40).
Jesus, in the early morning hours of Sunday April 9, makes his first appearance to any human since his resurrection. Appearing in his human form, he reveals to Mary Magdalene the startling fact that he will soon ascend to heaven to present himself to God the Father.
Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brethren and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father. . ." (John 20:17, HBFV).
Jesus spoke to Mary just after sunrise which was about twelve hours after being resurrected from the dead.
Why didn't Jesus immediately ascend to God the moment he received his life back? The answer to this question is tied to an often overlooked ceremony commanded to take place during God's annual spring Feast (Holy) days.
The Wave Sheaf
The offering of the wave sheaf was an important event to be carried out each year on the Sunday during the spring Feast of Unleavened Bread. This offering to God, of the first fruits of the land (barley), had to be carried out before the spring harvest was reaped (Leviticus 23:14). The ceremony itself took place around 9 a.m. at Jerusalem's temple during the first century A.D.
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, "When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring the premier sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.
And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you. On the next day after the (weekly) Sabbath the priest shall wave it . . ." (Leviticus 23:10 - 11).
The sheaf waved before God was cut at the end of the weekly Sabbath (sunset Saturday) that preceded the wave sheaf day (The Wave Sheaf Offering Day at cbcg.org).
Symbolism
God intended the cutting and waving of the first fruits of the harvest to be prophetically symbolic of two highly important events in Jesus' existence that had to take place at a particular time!
The cutting of the wave sheaf near sunset Saturday prophesied the exact day and time Jesus was to be "cut free" from death! The waving of the first sheaf on Sunday morning symbolized Jesus ascending to heaven and presenting himself to the Father as the firstfruits from among the dead.
"The day of the wave sheaf is significant for God's people today because it commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ and His acceptance by the Father as the 'first of the firstfruits.'" (Understanding God's Command for the Wave Sheaf by D. Blevins).
The First of Many
The Bible reveals that Jesus is only the first of many others who will soon be raised from the dead and given eternal life in the first resurrection.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the Firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead . . .
But each in his own order: Christ the Firstfruit; then, those who are Christ’s at His coming (1Corinthians 15:20 - 21, 23).
Conclusion
Jesus, resurrected near sunset on a Saturday, delayed his ascension 15 hours until 9 a.m. on Sunday. He did this so that he could perfectly fulfill the symbolism of the wave sheaf offering which always occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.