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
We are clothed with power from on high to be witnesses to the resurrection. We have no secret handshakes or even perfect theological pronouncements, but we do have power-dunamis, holy dynamite.
My grandson had an inner ear problem and his mother informed me that a trip to the chiropractor had been recommended. But when the eager three-year-old reported it to me, his version was “we’re going to see the firecracker.” What a difference. One promises an adjustment, the other an explosion.
Most of us just want our lives adjusted. We just want God to fish us out of whatever mess we’ve encountered. But the risen and ascended Lord Jesus sends the Spirit of power that is holy dynamite: redemption, renewal and cross-shaped vocation. The God who raised Jesus from the dead never does things in halves.
On this Ascension Day, let us pray for and live into God’s explosive and renewing power for all creation.
Prayer
Risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, lift us up by your Spirit’s power to live lives of mercy, joy, hospitality and courage. May your love so fill us today that we see your face more clearly in all we meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.