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the journey which took Him All the Way was their arrival “in the temple, prais-
to Glory. “God has given the highest place ing and blessing God” (v53). Note that
to the Man to whom earth gave the lowest the disciples are “blessing” God. This is
place. He is not just exalted but highly the third use of the word in four verses.
exalted, not only above all but far above Christ “blessed” them first (24:50,51), thus
all. God could not honor His Son in any guaranteeing the success of their mission.
higher measure.” Now they bless God, being witnesses of
4
To Him whom men despise and slight, the Lord’s ascension. Thus, Luke ends his
To Him be glory given; Gospel in the same place where it began –
The crown is His, and His by right in Jerusalem in the temple (1:9). He began
The highest place in heaven. with a man in the temple who could not
5
Fitting Responses to the bless (1:22), but ends with a group of men
Ascension in the temple who could bless. And they
had great reasons to do so!
It is helpful to notice that when our Sav- Luke’s account in Acts gives us one
ior ascended, His followers responded in more response to the ascension. Fourth,
at least four ways. First, Luke says “they and quite obviously, the eyewitnesses
worshipped him” (24:52). And so should became effective witnesses. At first, the
we. The One elevated to the highest place
in the universe is worthy (and alone wor- disciples’ attention needed some refo-
thy) of our worship. cusing. As they stared into the skies, two
Second, Luke tells us that the disciples men in white apparel (angels) appeared
“returned to Jerusalem with great joy” to them with this message: “Ye men of
(v52). When He told them He was leaving Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
6
them before He died, they were filled with heaven?” (Act 1:11). The implication is
sorrow. But now that the Lord had died, that they needed to get to work. They had
was risen and ascended, they rejoiced seen the ascension, but it was over now.
once He departed! One of the reasons for The Lord did not need stargazers but wit-
their joy was not only what the ascen- nesses. And they did get to work. Shortly
sion meant for Christ, but what it would thereafter, on the Day of Pentecost, they
mean for them. He had told them that the received the Holy Spirit and became “wit-
Holy Spirit could not come until He had nesses unto [Christ] both in Jerusalem,
departed (Joh 16:7). Now that He had de- and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
parted, they would know that very shortly
they would be “endued with power from unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (v8).
on high” (Luk 24:49). How thankful we ought to be that this was
A third response by the Lord’s disciples one of their responses to the reality of the
ascended Lord, or we would never have
heard the gospel ourselves.
4 A.J. Higgins, “The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Truth & Tidings, January 2023, Vol 74, Worship, joy, praise, witnessing – all
No 1). are appropriate responses to the Lord’s
5 Thomas Kelly (1769–1855)
6 Both Christ’s birth and ascension produce joy ascension. He is worthy. How are we
in the Gospel of Luke (2:10; 24:52). responding?

88 TRUTH kTidings March 2025