Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)
Read Luke 24:44-53 on biblegateway.com
Verse 44Then 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." Verse 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, Verse 46and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, Verse 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Verse 48You are witnesses of these things. Verse 49And 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."
Verse 50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. Verse 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. Verse 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; Verse 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Devotion
“Jesus blessed them and left them.” I have always searched for blessings, with various outcomes. I sought the blessing of my father and mother. I sought the blessing of my teachers and professors. The prodigal son was looking for a blessing and more. The older son never did seem to get a blessing, even in the end.
Blessings are what give us hope. Blessings give us identity. Blessings anchor us when the world, our family and our friends reject us. If we have a blessing, then the world isn’t as frightening.
That’s what happened on Ascension Day. Jesus gave us a blessing to go into the world without him. We got a blessing to do it alone, for a while.
Prayer
Lord, give us the peace we search for and the blessing from you that we all desire. Amen.