5/20/07 - Ascension - Luke 24:44-53

A FAREWELL CELEBRATION
- The final blessing
- The joyful response

40 days can change a lot of things. From Easter Sunday until Christ’s ascension into heaven - a period of 40 days - things changed a lot for the disciples. Their attitude, their knowledge, their entire outlook on life had completely changed. Do you remember what the disciples were like right after Jesus rose from the dead? They were afraid, hiding in a locked room. They were cynical of the fact that Jesus was actually alive. In fact, when John and Peter did see the empty tomb, the Bible records for us that “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). The disciples were also shocked and depressed about the situation because they thought they had lost their friend and teacher for good.
But just 40 days later, on the day of Christ’s ascension, things had taken a 180 degree turn. The disciples were no longer afraid. They were no longer cynical or depressed. They were happy. They were enthusiastic. They were well aware of what Jesus had done for them and what he would do in the future. That is how we find the disciples in our text for today. And so today we rejoice with them at the farewell celebration of Christ’s ascension. There, on the hills of Bethany, we will look at Christ’s final blessing, and the Christian’s joyful response. The portion of Scripture for our learning today is from the book of Luke 24:44-53:
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
This wasn’t a normal farewell celebration. Usually, when a highly respected person is leaving, a party is thrown by friends and relatives, people are invited from the past, kind words are said about the person about to leave… but not here. Here, at this farewell celebration, there was no party thrown by Jesus’ friends. No one else was invited to the gathering. And the only words that were said were not about Jesus, but by Jesus. Because this farewell celebration wasn’t for the Lord’s benefit, it was for the benefit of the ones he was leaving behind. And what a glorious way he left! What glorious words he left them with!
The final words Jesus spoke to his disciples while he was ascending into heaven were the words of a blessing. What blessing exactly? We don’t know. All we know is that Jesus raised his hands in the air and blessed them. And so he didn’t leave his disciples with a command or a reminder or a warning, but a blessing. But the question is: what is a blessing exactly? What does it mean that Jesus blessed his disciples? Well, if you were to say that the Lord has really blessed you in your life, you would probably mean that he has given you many gifts in various ways. The word “blessing” is used like that in the Bible, but when Jesus blesses his disciples here he doesn’t physically give them anything, rather he promises to give them something in the future.
This was nothing new. In the Old Testament fathers blessed their children and the Lord blessed his children all the time. Abraham blessed Isaac who blessed Jacob who blessed Joseph. Aaron and the high priests were to bless the people as did the Lord himself. All of these “blessings” were words of promise to give them actual spiritual and physical blessings in the future. And so when the Lord blessed the disciples on the day of his ascension it was to strengthen them and to encourage them in the days ahead - to give them a sure promise of the blessings to come. And although we don’t know exactly what Jesus said on that particular day of his farewell celebration, you can be sure they were words of promise the disciples remembered for the rest of their lives.
Although we didn’t hear those words of blessing that Jesus spoke on the hills of Bethany, we hear the words of many other blessings throughout the rest of Scripture, don’t we? Words of promise that are specifically for us. “I will be with you always to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “I am going [to heaven] to prepare a place for you and I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:3). “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). “Because I live you also will live” (John 14:19). These are all words of promise. These are all words of blessing that we hear week in and week out. When the Lord blesses us we are comforted and encouraged and strengthened because we have know doubt that the promises spoken about in that blessing will come to true. And as Jesus ascended into heaven during his farewell celebration, I’m sure the disciples were comforted in the very same way by the very same kind of promises.
But it’s not only interested how Jesus left them, it’s also interesting how the disciples responded. The Lord left them. He disappeared from their sight into a gathering of clouds not to come back until Judgment Day. They were alone. They would see him no more. They would hear him speak no longer. They would be on their own carrying out the very dangerous work of spreading the gospel. And so what did they do? After the Lord blessed them, they blessed the Lord. “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” The word for praising here is the exact same word as was used when the Lord blessed the disciples. But when people “bless” the Lord, that means they are praising his name - they are “speaking well” of him, literally. The disciples praised the Lord even though he had just left them. They weren’t sad that he was gone or depressed or scared like they were 40 days ago, because they now knew why he had to go and what they had to do. And so they worshiped regularly at the temple with great joy in their hearts.
Does this description of the disciples describe you? You too are a Christian. You too are one of the Lord’s disciples. You too hear words of blessing from the Lord each Sunday before you leave. Does this affect your day to day life? Does this fill your heats with joy or have you heard these blessings so often that by the time you walk out these doors you won’t think about them again until next week? Sadly it seems that instead of being overjoyed we are often times something completely different. Instead of being overjoyed about the work the Lord has given us to do, we are scared and hesitant to carry it out. Instead of being overjoyed about the promises the Lord has given us, there are some days we can’t even find the time to read about those promises at home. Instead of being overjoyed about the glories of heaven, the temporary pains and troubles and problems and misfortunes of this life distract our attention. We should never be less than overjoyed. There is no reason why we shouldn’t. And when we are - and all of us have to admit that we aren’t always overjoyed - then what are you saying to the Lord? “Lord, I know you have blessed me, but it’s not enough. Your encouragements don’t outweigh my reservations about spreading the Word. Your promises aren’t important enough to read about today. Your comfort just doesn’t cut it with all the pains and worries and troubles I have to deal with right now.” Is that what you want to say to your Lord? I doubt it. But that’s exactly what we do say when we are not overjoyed every minute of every day. Ask the Lord to forgive you when you are angry or frustrated or fed up or miserable. Ask him to remind you of the blessings he has given you in his Word and the joy that comes with it.
My friends, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to always be overjoyed. When you begin to realize that no matter how many times you sin, your sins are forgiven; when you begin to realize that no matter what happens, the Lord will work everything out for your good; when you begin to realize that no matter what you have to go through in this life, eternal life is waiting for you and it will never be taken away; to be always overjoyed is almost an understatement! Words can barely describe the joy a Christian feels in the midst of such love and grace and mercy! This is the state we should always be in as Christians. This is the state the disciples were in on the hills of Bethany. This is why they praised the Lord in the temple with hearts filled with joy. And this is why the Lord’s departure was not a somber occasion to them but a farewell celebration.
Christ’s ascension is a day of celebration. It marks the point when Jesus went back to heaven to sit at the right hand of God - a place of authority and honor that we will one day share with him. Of course, the celebration at his return will be even greater. He will come back just as he left: riding on the clouds. And at that moment every blessing that he has ever given us will come to fulfillment. We will then receive every gift that he has ever promised and we will enjoy them for eternity. If this doesn’t make you overjoyed, I don’t know what would. If this doesn’t motivate you to live you life wrapped up in the joys of salvation for all to see, I don’t know what else to say. But I know that it does. I know that it motivates you to be overjoyed in every aspect of your life so that more and more people can hear those same blessings of the Lord and believe in his name along with you.
I can’t think of a better way to end a sermon like this than with a blessing of the Lord. A well-known blessing. A blessing you will hear again at the end of this service. Listen closely, with a renewed sense and love for the blessings of the Lord, as we hear the blessing recorded for us in the book of Numbers chapter 6: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26).
Amen.

“May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” - Psalm 134:3