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
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!
Prayer
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.