Anchor My Faith

Author: Stephen Weller
1,234 words, 7 minutes read time

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson

Have Mercy On Me, O God

While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51 ESV)

The last four verses of Luke form a paragraph, or a short section titled “The Ascension” in the ESV Study Bible. This is a time when Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection; when he stands before them in a body of flesh, but they still disbelieved, so he asked them for something to eat. ⁴² “They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.”

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 and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”’

Try to imagine what it was like to be a disciple and not have the New Testament or all the learning you have and that you witnessed Jesus dying on a cross and then placed in a tomb. How do you comprehend the fact that he is now standing before you in perfect health in a body of flesh? It was important that Jesus be seen in this form to produce a valid witness of what happened after death. This is evidence that we will also be raised and have a perfect body of flesh.

Jesus now leads the disciples “out as far as Bethany and lifting up his hands he blessed them” (verse 50). ^{Lk 24:51} “While he was blessing them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven ^{Mk 16:19} and sat down at the right hand of God.” In Acts 1:9 – 11 (ESV), we are given additional information: ⁹ “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”’

This cloud would be similar to the cloud that appeared at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28 – 36) “[when] a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”’ A cloud in this context is associated with a manifestation of God’s presence and surrounds the very presence of God.

Watching the physical body of Jesus ascend into heaven indicates that Jesus retains a physical human body, as a man, though he is exalted to the right hand of God. Acts 1:11 indicates that Jesus will return to earth with that same physical body. The incarnation is an amazing miracle in that the eternal Son of God took human nature on himself and became a person who is simultaneously God and man, and that he will remain both fully God and fully man forever. An additional part of this miracle is how all believers will have personal access to Jesus in heaven. Clearly this is beyond our understanding this side of heaven.

Father the future heavenly experience of a believer is so beyond our understanding or even our imagination. What a time to look forward to and what a living hope that gives us. Thank you for your sacrifice that made this all possible.

The Following Addendum Is Provided by ChatGPT

Summary Theme

The Ascension of Christ and His Exalted Authority

Summary Paragraph

Luke 24:51 records the moment when Jesus, having completed His earthly ministry and secured redemption through His death and resurrection, is taken up into heaven while blessing His disciples. This event, known as the ascension, signifies the culmination of His incarnate work and His return to the Father in glory. It affirms His divine authority, the acceptance of His redemptive mission, and His ongoing role as intercessor and reigning Lord. The ascension also marks a transition for the disciples—from physically following Christ to spiritually trusting in His continued presence and awaiting the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Discussion Questions with Extended Answers:

1. What is the significance of Jesus ascending while blessing His disciples?
   Answer:
   The fact that Jesus ascends while blessing His disciples reveals His heart toward His followers and the nature of His ongoing relationship with them. His blessing signifies favor, peace, and divine provision. It assures the disciples that although His physical presence is departing, His care and authority remain with them. This moment echoes the priestly role of blessing, showing that Jesus continues to act as the mediator between God and His people. It also reinforces that His departure is not abandonment but part of God’s redemptive plan, preparing the way for the Holy Spirit to come and empower the Church.
2. How does the ascension confirm the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission?
   Answer:
   The ascension confirms that Jesus’ mission, His life of obedience, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, has been fully accomplished and accepted by the Father. His return to heaven demonstrates that the work of atonement is finished and that He is now exalted in glory. This is consistent with the broader teaching of Scripture that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, indicating authority and completion. The ascension is not an afterthought but a necessary conclusion, showing that Jesus has fulfilled all that was required for salvation and now reigns as Lord over all.
3. What does the ascension teach about Jesus’ present role?
   Answer:
   The ascension reveals that Jesus is not absent but actively reigning and interceding. He now occupies a position of authority at the right hand of the Father, governing all things and advocating for believers. His role includes intercession, where He represents His people before God, ensuring that His finished work continues to apply to their lives. Additionally, His ascension prepares the way for the sending of the Holy Spirit, through whom He remains present with His people. Thus, the ascension shifts our understanding of Christ from a physically present teacher to a sovereign, ever-present Lord.
4. How should believers respond to the truth of the ascension?
   Answer:
   Believers are called to respond with worship, confidence, and mission. The ascension assures us that Christ reigns, giving us confidence in His authority over all circumstances. It calls us to trust in His ongoing work and to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our Savior is in heaven preparing and interceding for us. It also compels believers to continue the mission entrusted to the disciples, proclaiming the gospel, knowing that Christ’s authority and blessing accompany them. The ascension, therefore, is both a comfort and a commissioning moment for all who follow Him.