Thursday, 5 May 2016
Luke 24:44 Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Tanakh, 46 telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; 47 and in his name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Yerushalayim. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Now I am sending forth upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been equipped with power from above.”
The ascension of our Lord has often seems like the most neglected festival of the Christian year, since its occasion forty days after Easter always falls on a Thursday. Celebrating the Ascension on the Sunday following has always seemed like an accommodation to convenience. Yet the bodily ascension of the risen Jesus offers the profound assurance that Jesus is Lord--twice proclaimed by Luke, both at the conclusion of his Gospel and in the first chapter of Acts. The gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon all flesh in the event of Pentecost follows close just as the prophet Joel has promised.
Jesus has convinced his disciples that the crucified and risen messiah is not just some ghost. He breaks bread with two of them at Emmaus and their eyes are opened. The risen Jesus appears to all of them again. He asks them for a piece of broiled fish to eat in their presence, persuading them that he is bodily present. He reminds them that they are witnesses to his suffering, death and resurrection, and then blesses them and is carried up into heaven to reign at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is Lord!
Open our eyes, oh Lord, to the joy of your crucified and risen presence with us even as we celebrate your ascension. Give us courage to be your witnesses here on earth. Amen.
Glen Wheeler
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1966
Luke 24::44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.[New Revised Standard Version}
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50 He led them out toward Beit-Anyah; then, raising his hands, he said a b’rakhah over them; 51 and as he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 They bowed in worship to him, then returned to Yerushalayim, overflowing with joy. 53 And they spent all their time in the Temple courts, praising God.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------The ascension of our Lord has often seems like the most neglected festival of the Christian year, since its occasion forty days after Easter always falls on a Thursday. Celebrating the Ascension on the Sunday following has always seemed like an accommodation to convenience. Yet the bodily ascension of the risen Jesus offers the profound assurance that Jesus is Lord--twice proclaimed by Luke, both at the conclusion of his Gospel and in the first chapter of Acts. The gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon all flesh in the event of Pentecost follows close just as the prophet Joel has promised.
Jesus has convinced his disciples that the crucified and risen messiah is not just some ghost. He breaks bread with two of them at Emmaus and their eyes are opened. The risen Jesus appears to all of them again. He asks them for a piece of broiled fish to eat in their presence, persuading them that he is bodily present. He reminds them that they are witnesses to his suffering, death and resurrection, and then blesses them and is carried up into heaven to reign at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is Lord!
Open our eyes, oh Lord, to the joy of your crucified and risen presence with us even as we celebrate your ascension. Give us courage to be your witnesses here on earth. Amen.
Glen Wheeler
Retired
Master of Divinity, 1966
Luke 24::44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.[New Revised Standard Version}
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