Knowing The Word in Luke 24:50-53

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Comments

The ascension of Jesus is covered more broadly in Acts 1, but this account in Luke connects his gospel with his history of the early Church in Acts.

It had been forty days since Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He led them to the western slope of the Mount of Olives. There, the apostles joyfully worshipped him as God as he blessed them and ascended into heaven.

The apostles went back to the city and to the temple.

Luke began his gospel in the temple and there he ended it.

Application

By tradition, Luke was the only Gentile gospel writer. Why do you think he began and ended his gospel in the Jewish temple?

Prayer

You are not only risen and alive, you are Lord.

This is your ascension, your ascendancy over the whole universe.

You stand over and above all that is best in life as its source.

You stand above all that is worst as ultimate victor.

You stand above all powers and authorities as judge.

You stand above all failure and weakness and sin as forgiveness and love.

You alone are worthy of total allegiance, total commitment.

You are Lord,

“My Lord and my God.”

Rex Chapman