The Passion: The Ascension — While He Blessed Them
Study The Word
Luke 24:50–53
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
I want you to see this. I want you to picture this moment. Jesus walked with His disciples. He led them out as far as Bethany. They were walking together, talking together, and then Jesus stopped. He lifted up His hands. And He blessed them. He began to pronounce blessings over them: “You are blessed. You are blessed. You are increased. You are multiplied.” And while He was speaking those words of blessing — while He was still blessing them — He started to lift off the ground. Glory to God!
Oh, what a sight! What a sight! What a sight! He lifted up His hands and while He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. No rope was carrying Him. The angels did not come and hold Him and say, “Let’s go up.” No! He lifted of His own accord! While He was blessing! This is a flex! This is a flex! That is my Jesus! What a flex! What a show! While He blessed them, He just started to lift off the ground. And they were watching. They were watching this. Hallelujah!
ευλογέω eulogeo blessed – to speak well of, to praise, to invoke a blessing, to confer prosperity, to consecrate with solemn prayers
And this was not the only time! For forty days and forty nights, these things were happening. He would appear while they were locked up in a room — He would just appear. And then He would walk out with them, talk with them, teach them things concerning the kingdom of God. And then He would say, “Okay, it’s time for me to go.” And He would lift up and be carried up into heaven while they watched! Acts chapter 1 tells us that He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days. He was assembling together with them. He was with them!
ἀναλαμβάνω analambano carried up – to take up, to receive up, to be lifted up, to be taken into heaven
And when He ascended that final time, the Bible says they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Not sorrow! Not mourning! Great joy! Why? Because they had witnessed the most glorious sight in human history. Their Lord had been raised from the dead. Their Lord had eaten with them. Their Lord had taught them. And now their Lord had ascended into heaven while pronouncing blessings over them. And they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. The ascension did not leave them hopeless — it filled them with worship and joy. Because they knew: He is alive. He has ascended. And He is seated at the right hand of God. Hallelujah!
Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the glorious ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. I receive every blessing that flows from His ascension and I worship Him with great joy, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Speak The Word
My Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven while He blessed His disciples! I live under the blessing of the ascended Christ. He lifted up His hands and He blessed, and I am a recipient of the blessing of the resurrection and the ascension and I am continually praising and blessing God, for my Lord is alive and seated at the right hand of God and I’m seated together with Him, in the name of Jesus Christ!