Lucas 24

Lucas 24

Wesley put it in his great hymn: “Lives again our glorious King, Where, O death, is now thy sting? Dying once He all doth save, Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!” (Play Christ the Lord is Risen Today) If Dr Jeremiah's quotes intrigue you, you might be interested in BORROWING Last words of saints and sinners by Lockyer, Herbert - THIS IS A FASCINATING BOOK TO READ! Acts 1:12-14 Going Away - Dave Branon They worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. —Luke 24:52 It was the most unusual “going-away party” ever. There stood Jesus, who had recently risen from the grave. And there stood His followers, listening to His teaching as they had on so many occasions. Jesus spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49), and He told them that it would be their task to be His witnesses. Then an unusual thing happened. Luke said that Jesus led His disciples to Bethany (Lk 24:50), and as He was blessing them He was “carried up into heaven” (Lk 24:51). Mark recorded, “He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19). To see Jesus ascend to heaven was amazing, but what happened next was also remarkable. Instead of being downcast because He had gone away, the disciples responded with renewed purpose. They worshiped Him (Luke 24:52). They joyfully returned to Jerusalem, where they prayed (Acts 1:12-14). Then, after receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), “they went out and preached everywhere” (Mark 16:20). Jesus conquered death and fear; Now He reigns from heaven above. Spread the word both far and near Of His great redeeming love. —D. De Haan Jesus had to go away so the Holy Spirit could come to stay. The Promised Spirit Read: 2 Kings 2:5-12 | Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 1–3; Luke 24:1-35 “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 2 Kings 2:9 Tenacity and audacity—Elisha had heaps of both. Having spent time with Elijah, he witnessed the Lord working through the prophet by performing miracles and by speaking truth in an age of lies. Second Kings 2:1 tells us that Elijah is about to be taken “up to heaven,” and Elisha doesn’t want him to leave. The time came for the dreaded separation, and Elisha knew he needed what Elijah had if he was going to successfully continue the ministry. So he made a daring demand: “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). His bold request was a reference to the double portion given the firstborn son or heir under the law (Deut. 21:17). Elisha wanted to be recognized as the heir of Elijah. And God said yes. Recently one of my mentors—a woman who spread the good news of Jesus—died. Having battled ill health for years, she was ready to enjoy her eternal feast with the Lord. Those of us who loved her were grateful at the thought of her newfound freedom from pain and that she could enjoy God’s presence, but we grieved the loss of her love and example. Despite her departure, she did not leave us alone. We too had God’s presence. Elisha gained a double portion of Elijah’s spirit—a tremendous privilege and blessing. We who live after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus have the promised Holy Spirit. The triune God makes His home with us! Amy Boucher Pye Dear Lord, we want to be more like You. Help us to be witnesses of Your Spirit within us. When Jesus ascended to His Father, He sent His Spirit. INSIGHT: When Elisha received the “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit, the first thing he asked was, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14). This question voices Elisha’s deep concern that the ministry Elijah had—bringing the word of the Lord to the people—would not cease after Elijah was taken to heaven. Oswald Chambers - The life that lives Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49. The disciples had to tarry until the day of Pentecost not for their own preparation only; they had to wait until the Lord was glorified historically. As soon as He was glorified, what happened? “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” The parenthesis in John 7:39 (“For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified”) does not apply to us; the Holy Ghost has been given, the Lord is glorified; the waiting depends not on God’s providence, but on our fitness. The Holy Spirit’s influence and power were at work before Pentecost, but He was not here. Immediately Our Lord was glorified in Ascension, the Holy Spirit came into this world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revelation that He is here. The reception of the Holy Spirit is the maintained attitude of a believer. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive quickening life from the ascended Lord. It is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost which changes men, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into men’s lives by the Holy Ghost that changes them. We too often divorce what the New Testament never divorces. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ: it is the evidence of the ascended Christ. The baptism of the Holy Ghost does not make you think of Time or Eternity, it is one amazing glorious NOW. “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee.” Begin to know Him now, and finish never. Baptize Us Anew Faith Is a Liv­ing Pow­er from Heav­en Holy Spir­it, Hear Us (Mohr) Tarry for the Pow­er Waiting for the Pro­mise (Crafts) CLICK HERE FOR MORE RESOURCES RELATED TO LUKE 24:49 (because they are lengthy, they are placed at the bottom of this page). Luke 24:50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Amplified Then He conducted them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He invoked a blessing on them. as far: Mk 11:1 Ac 1:12 he lifted: Ge 14:18-20 27:4 48:9 49:28 Nu 6:23-27 Mk 10:16 Heb 7:5-7 Luke 24:50-53 The Significance of the Ascension - John MacArthur Luke 24:50-53 Why the Disciples Rejoiced at Jesus’ Ascension - Steven Cole Luke 24:50-53 Our Lord’s Posture in Ascension - C H Spurgeon Luke 24:50. Our Lord's Attitude in Ascension - Sermon Notes-scroll down - C H Spurgeon Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Acts 1:9-12+ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. Luke 24:50-53 deal with the ascension which is described more fully in Luke’s second volume (Acts 1:9–11). No other Gospel records the ascension of Jesus. In fact, no other NT writer records His ascension. And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up (epairo) His hands and blessed (eulogeo) them - Where did He lead them from? Presumably they were in Jerusalem, possibly the "upper room." Bethany would be in the vicinity of the Mount of Olives which does not conflict with Acts 1:12. He lifted His hands was a common gesture associated with blessing (cf. Lev. 9:22; Ps. 134:2) that pointed toward heaven, from where all blessing descends. David Guzik on lifted His hands - Nothing but blessing had ever come from those hands; but now, Jesus stands as the High Priest over His people to bless them. “Thus He remains until He comes again, His hands uplifted, and His lips pronouncing the blessedness of His own.” (Morgan) (Luke 24 Commentary)