The Benediction that Blesses Us

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God (Luke 24:50-53).

The Holy Spirit had Luke conclude this gospel with a very brief yet powerful benediction. Luke presented the same scene in much greater detail at the beginning of his letter to Theophilus that is included in the scriptures as the Book of Acts. Here we learn that Jesus simply, yet profoundly led them out, lifted His hands in a blessing, and left them for heaven. Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, leads us into some vital everyday truth for disciples in every age that are living for Christ and awaiting His return. With the Spirit’s help, we can join the first disciples and receive the benediction that blesses us.

Jesus led the disciples. Sometimes we read the scriptures too fast. When we slow down and listen for key words we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading us into God’s truth. Today we notice that Jesus led His disciples to the place of His choosing, where He planned to leave them and return to His Father’s side in heaven. We are always better off when we follow Jesus’ leading and keep ourselves in the center of His will, protection, and power. If we follow Jesus in the midst of our ever-changing and directionless world, we will discover and enjoy the abundant life He wants us to know now as we prepare for eternal life in heaven… “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4). Enjoy the abundance of a Christ-led life today!

Jesus lifted His hands and blessed the disciples. When we pause to reflect on this moment, the Spirit points out that this was God, bowing down to touch the disciples with a blessing. In the midst of being preoccupied with the details of the ascension and anticipation of the joyful return to heaven, Jesus paused and humbly touched His disciples with a blessing. We are reminded of the way Jesus lifted and blessed the five loaves and two fishes, multiplying them into food for thousands… “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds… And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (Matthew 14:19-21). The Greek word for blessing means to speak or invoke prosperity and thanks into someone’s life. Let’s face it, living for Christ in an un-Christian world does not yield many blessings from other people, but every time we pause and spend some devoted time with Jesus and His Word, we position ourselves to receive His blessing.

Jesus left the disciples to return to heaven. The blessing here is a bit more mysterious. We don’t usually feel very blessed when a loved one departs from us to go to heaven. Of course, we rejoice because we know the truth and beauty of heaven, but we miss their physical presence here. With Jesus, it’s different. We rejoice that He has returned to the Father where He now intercedes continuously for the completion of our salvation… “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25), and we have the additional blessing of His spiritual presence in our heart every day… “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). As we grow in the faith, we become more sensitive to Christ’s presence and influence in our hearts and we anticipate His work in the people and circumstances that surround us.

As we grow up into Christ, just like the first disciples, we are encouraged and strengthened by…

The Benediction that Blesses Us.