Thursday, May 25, 2017
Luke 24:50-51 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
ASCENSION
What sort of a blessing was it? We don't have the words of that ascension day blessing, but we have many other blessings of the Lord throughout the New Testament. There Jesus says, through the apostles:
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7).
"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you" (Romans 16:24).
"Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love" (Ephesians 6:23).
"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" (Jude 2).
Grace -- Mercy -- Peace -- Love -- one of these is a part of every blessing spoken in the New Testament, and all of these are the result of the Savior's work. The grace of God was shown in sending His Son to die for us. It was mercy that saw our needs and moved to help. In the blood of Christ we were cleansed from sin and the hostility with God was ended: Peace. And hereby know we the love of God, that He sent His only Son into the world.
Grace -- Mercy -- Peace -- Love -- surely this was also the content of Jesus' blessing that day.
Paul wrote to the Romans: "The God of peace be with you all!" (Romans 15:33) and Jesus said, "And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). So we already know His answer when we sing: "Abide with me ..."
