Luke 24:50-53 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.… I. THE LAST ACTS OF THE REDEEMER ON EARTH. 1. He selects a suitable place from which to take His departure. 2. He solemnly blesses His disciples. 3. He ascends up to heaven. 4. "It came to pass, while He blessed them, He was taken up." Did His ascension, then, interrupt and cut short the blessing? No; He still continued to bless as He went up. No — nor is the blessing yet at an end: for this is that Christ who, as St. Paul says, "is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." II. THE FIRST ACTS OF THE REDEEMED AFTER HIS DEPARTURE. 1. They worshipped Him. Remember that! The appointed teachers of the Christian religion "worshipped" Christ; it was their very first act after they had ceased to behold Him. 2. They were filled with joy — great joy.Now therefore they rejoiced — 1. On their Lord's account. "If ye love Me," He had said, "ye would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father." And this their joy is now fulfilled. 2. On their own account. All was now plain in the system of that redemption, concerning which they had long formed such erroneous expectations. 3. In the use of appointed means they sought and expected His gifts of grace. In Jerusalem were they to receive the "promise of the Father"; therefore they at once returned thither. On their arrival, behold them "continually in the temple, praising and blessing God!" continually — that is, at every appointed service. (J. Jowett, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.WEB: He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. |
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