Day 32: Joyful Worship & Continual Presence
Chrissy Mayfield (Luke 24:50–53; John 20:30–31)
What an awe-inspiring ending to the testimony of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—His ascension!
It’s recorded by Luke in 24:50–53:
“He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising His hands, He blessed them, and while blessing them, made His exit, being carried up to heaven. And they were on their knees, worshipping Him. They returned to Jerusalem, bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.” (MSG)
As you read this final passage in Luke, imagine yourself as one of the disciples; even while having hands laid on you and declarations of blessing being spoken over you by the Messiah Himself, He begins to lift off! He’s off to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father! Talk about a sign and wonder!
Instead of freaking out or feeling abandoned, it says the disciples were “bursting with joy” and continually worshipping. What a difference the cross has already made to their hearts. Only some days ago (not fully sure of the timeline), the disciples were running away in fear, deflated, devastated even, and convinced that their Lord had left them. Now, He’s leaving for good this time (not leaving them as orphans, though—remember, the Holy Spirit is coming), yet they’re compelled to worship Him continuously in the temple.
Why are they so in awe? I’d suggest it’s because they are already experiencing the reality of being one in Jesus, grafted into The Vine, and thus never really being separated from Him. They too are “seated with Christ in heavenly places”—they are understanding this concept even before Paul wrote those words to describe that reality (Ephesians 2:6).
Consider now the last verses of the Gospel of John. John doesn’t describe this ascension event like Luke does, but instead chooses to say:
“Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way He personally revealed it.” (John 20:31, MSG)
John wants us to keep believing, keep being reminded, keep being reassured, and keep living from that place of active faith. We are reminded of all of Jesus’ miracles, signs, and wonders so that we always have this supernatural testimony before us—something to bring into our present reality.
Even 2,000 years later, we are urged on by the Spirit of God to see and step into “even greater works than these” (John 14:12). Can you imagine God using you to bring about greater signs and wonders than Jesus did? Now, that’s a stretch, eh!
Activation
Find a worship song or hymn that testifies to the awesome work of the resurrection and ascension. Get on your knees and worship Him just like the disciples did at the ascension. Let the lyrics bring to light the awe-inspiring, joy-filled reality of the life we now have in Christ because of what He has done for us.