Worshipers are Witnesses

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.

Every year we celebrate birthdays. We make a big deal out of them for that is when a special life came into this world. We have no idea the impact that is going to be made, yet we celebrate.

Then comes the day of their death. Shortly afterward, many have a celebration of life that had been lived by that person. But we don’t celebrate the day of their death. We remember it somberly.

Before we are able to be effective witnesses, we must be joyful worshipers.

But let’s suggest that somehow they come back to life after being dead. Talk about a celebration! That’s exactly why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. There would be great rejoicing for all that now lies ahead.

These verses which close out the book of Luke are basically the beginning of the book of Acts. In both, we see the ascension of Christ into heaven and the disciples awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. You see, in order for the Holy Spirit to come and indwell believers permanently, it was necessary for Jesus to ascend to heaven.

We also note that the Gospel of Luke begins in the temple and closes in the temple. In the opening of Luke, we see Mary and Elizabeth rejoicing. But notice in these last words, all the believers were gathered and they were all rejoicing.

It is fascinating to me that only Luke recorded this event in which so many actually saw the risen Jesus ascend to heaven.

Before we are able to be effective witnesses, we must be joyful worshipers.

Blessings - 24:50-51

Luke 24:50-51Last time we recall Jesus teaching them about all the Old Testament prophecies dealing with His life on this earth, along with the need for His death and resurrection to provide forgiveness of sins and the importance of sharing all this Good News with the whole world. He gave specific instructions of proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins, starting out in Jerusalem. Then He told them to wait in Jerusalem until with were given the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:50–51 NASB95

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

giveness of sins, starting out in Jerusalem. Then He told them to wait in Jerusalem until with were given the Holy Spirit.

Last time we recall Jesus teaching them about all the Old Testament prophecies dealing with His life on this earth, along with the need for His death and resurrection to provide forgiveness of sins and the importance of sharing all this Good News with the whole world. He gave specific instructions of proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins, starting out in Jerusalem. Then He told them to wait in Jerusalem until with were given the Holy Spirit.

We don’t know exactly how long this all took place; except for the fact that we know it was in the first 40 days after the resurrection. Now we come to the last day of Jesus’ time on this earth. The last day on earth; how would you want to spend it? On this last day on earth for Jesus, He travelled with His followers across the valley from Jerusalem to Bethany. That’s about two miles east of Jerusalem, somewhere near the Mount of Olives. This location is very significant to Jesus and familiar to His followers as seen throughout His ministry. By the way, according to the Bible, it appears that this is where His return will be.

The Bible tells us that Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them. This raising of the hands is very common when pronouncing a blessing. There is symbolism involved that reminds everyone where the blessings comes from (heaven) and that they are descending upon the group. We’re not told what the blessing was; whether it was short or long, or if it was encouraging or instructional. However, it was the same as a promise to them. Just as they were given promises, we are promised every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

We also see that while Jesus was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. As I read this, I find myself wondering where the rest of the information is. What happened to the rest of the paragraph or where are those missing verses. After all, this is beyond amazing! Yet, that’s all Luke has to say?

We know from the book of Acts that it was visible and bodily. We only know of Enoch and Elijah who had left for heaven in their physical bodies. We also know how Jesus would suddenly disappear without a trace. Those who were there actually saw Jesus departing and rising to heaven. In other words, in front of all the onlookers, Jesus rose physically and literally upwards towards heaven, or skyward.

Acts also reminds us that Jesus would come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Translated, it will obviously be in a physical manner in which He returns.

Praise - 24:52-53

And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.

Luke 24:52–53 NASB95

And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.

Notice that the followers of Jesus didn’t stand around moping and in sorrow. Most of us would experience great sadness and spend a lot of time reflecting on memories. Imagine the emotions they normally would have experienced when they had spent the previous 3 years with Jesus, only to see Him mercilessly killed. Then the euphoria they would have recalled in the past day as they discovered He was alive, raised from the dead. And now He’s going away to a place no GPS could track and they had been told they would not be able to go there at this time. But that’s not what happened.

In fact, they worshipped Him, then headed back to Jerusalem. Now that they understood, they could have no other reaction that one of worship and joy. In all of their instruction and receiving clarity to all they heard, I believe they were also fully aware that the adventure that lay before them was also an incredibly dangerous one. They were probably aware that they were faced with torture and potential death. But they had been given a commission to serve their Lord and Master.

Yet, how did they respond, we ask? They were walking back with great joy. The encouragement and promises for their future were completely overshadowing any anger or anxiety they may have been experiencing. They understood that it was a far better thing that Jesus return to heaven than stay on earth with them. Just previously, Jesus had explained that He had to return so that He could send the promised Holy Spirit Who would be with them forever, enabling them to live and do things that would have normally been impossible.

Though this last part of the last sentence makes it seem that this was an immediate event, it appears to have become more of a lifestyle.

Conclusion

What are some things which we can glean from this and be encouraged?

The fact that Jesus ascended to heaven shows the completed work of salvation. We had the cross which was where the penalty for sin was paid through the sinless blood of Jesus Christ. He was truly the sacrificial Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Then we have the resurrection which proves the acceptability of Christ’s payment for our sin. It showed that death had been defeated and the grave was not to be the end. Jesus had shown that He was indeed the Resurrection and the Life.

Now the ascension of Jesus was the end of Jesus’ earthly limitation which Philippians tells us how He had intentionally limited Himself. Now he was to have the glory He had previously with His heavenly Father before time existed. Before Jesus was born, He was spirit, making physical appearance in the Old Testament as the pre-incarnate Christ, being known as The angel of the Lord. He came to earth as the perfect God-Man. He returned to heaven as God-Man, and will never cease to be fully God and fully Man.

It is also at the ascension that Christ is exalted and given His rightful place at the Father’s right hand. He is seen as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

And it is also the time, upon the fact of His glorification, that the Holy Spirit will be sent. Though Christ could not physically be present with His followers any longer, until He gather the Church to be with Him forever, the Holy Spirit would indwell believers forever.

Here’s something else to consider. Jesus promised that when He goes to heaven, He will prepare a place for us all to be. In other words, He is even now preparing a place for us to call home.

But we’re not there yet. We have a task before us that we must do. Jesus has given all His followers the work of evangelism. That is, we are to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to all. This is something that will continue on until the day of Christ’s return.

There is another factor which we need to consider with the ascension of Christ. Ephesians and Colossians remind us that Jesus is head over the church. We are to do what He desires for us to do. That means that those who serve and lead in the church can only genuinely do this as the Spirit, whom Jesus sent, gifts and equips.

You probably are wondering when I was going to get to this obvious reality. The ascension of Christ proves that He is victorious completely over Satan.

There is also an ongoing and active ministry which Jesus performs on our behalf. Hebrews is a great book which gives great insight into the many thing which Christ does. He intercedes for us. He is sympathetic and merciful and faithful as a high priest on our behalf.

And if we go back to where the angels are describing Jesus’ ascension and what is next, we are guaranteed that Jesus is coming again.

Sometimes, we can get caught up in all that is happening around us and can choose to become negative, seeing only that Jesus is not right here physically with us. Or we can take great comfort and encouragement that because Jesus has ascended to heaven and has sent the Holy Spirit to equip and enable us for the opportunity to proclaim salvation through Him to everyone, we can rejoice.

If we take the time to get to really know Jesus and want to be transformed into His likeness, we will find ourselves actively, continually worshipping Him. When we become joyful worshipers, we find ourselves wanting to tell others about Jesus.