Last Words Of Jesus And Me

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Luke 24: 50 – 51.

We have been told of three unmistakably visible acts which Jesus performed, as revealed in the above text. We have already briefly studied, two of them, where it was noted and emphasized that Jesus Himself led His followers to a Place of Blessing. Having got there, Jesus did not just bless them, but He lifted up His hands to do so, encompassing every single one present in that place, as He bestowed upon them His Prayer of Blessing.  

The third and final visible fact to be observed, is not as clearly seen as the others. Nonetheless, it is most visible to the seeing eyes and hearing ears. May God grant us understanding and knowledge, as we receive.

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Unrelenting faith and trust in Jesus, allow us to hear and see the Privilege of Blessing given to those disciples.

There is a sense of deep, awesome, inexplicable fear, is there not, when you are brought to these facts about being given such a privilege in blessing. The first thing that grabs us is the fact that it is when Jesus is blessing them, they see Him leave to return home. What a privilege! This is a huge occasion for all these disciples. This is the Ascension of Jesus and it is no less striking and awesome to His disciples as His Transfiguration was to three of His disciples. Is there something similar here? Another thing that holds our attention for sure, is that the Transfiguration, like the Ascension, was centred in prayer. Luke reliably informs us that it was while Jesus was praying that He was transfigured. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Luke 9: 29. 

Also, there is a sort of heavenly mystery, with the eyes no longer seeing what has been before them. It is while Jesus is praying that He ascends. As previously stated, no words have been recorded about what Jesus said when, with uplifted Hands, He was blessing His disciples. Whatever prayer blessings Jesus was showering upon them, it all had to be of God, with God and through God the Father. It was as they were receiving the privilege of Jesus’ parting blessings, that He was removed from their sight. They saw Him no more.

In the Transfiguration, the eyes of the three, given sight to see Moses and Elijah, also see them no more, as they are taken from their sight. Often, our heavenly pictures are taken from our sight, whether those visions come in dreams, flashes or what have you. Our response is not one of grief and sadness, just inner, strengthening joy and peace, where we are always left wiser, richer and more empowered to serve our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We are speaking of the kind of seeing and hearing of which Jesus spoke, after telling the parable of the Sower. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Matthew 13: 16 KJV. The Privilege of Blessing is still available to believers, disciples of Jesus, as the Spirit works His faith-building and trust-engendering works in us.  

 We follow through tomorrow, as we conclude.