This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We are under the blessing hands of the ascended Lord, empowered, protected, loved, at peace.Īnalytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Protestant worship traditionally ends with the raised hands of blessing (sadly lost in too many “contemporary” services). Catholic priests often bless with a certain shape of the hand. The Orthodox Pantokrator icon pictures the Ascended Lord with hands shaped to mark his name in blessing over us. Leonard Nimoy, a Jewish man, turned this into the sign with the Vulcan greeting. Conservative Jewish tradition calls the blessing “the raising of the hands.” The hands are shaped to depict the Hebrew letter for the Almighty. Luke does not give us the words he shows us the hands. The blessing is God in Jesus empowering you, protecting you, watching over you with love, giving you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 gives us the words of the blessing, “The Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ![]() ![]() After Aaron’s first sacrifice, he extended its merit to all the people in blessing (Leviticus 9:22-24). The priests, also, blessed the people of Israel. At the end of his life, Moses blesses all the tribes of Israel. Isaac and Jacob, near death, blessed their sons. When God gave over the care of his creation to humans, he blessed them. It is often given at major transition times. Luke, however, ends his Gospel with the picture of the blessing hands of the ascending Lord.Ī blessing is an empowering gift. This is where the Book of Hebrews describes Jesus interceding and Revelation sees him ruling over all history. At God’s right hand is where Stephen sees him standing. “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). In Peter’s Pentecost speech, he highlights that Jesus is at the right hand of God. We may think of a different posture for Jesus on Ascension Day. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:50–51, NIV). ![]() “He lifted up his hands and blessed them. Just outside of Jerusalem on the other side of the mount of Olives near Bethany, where Jesus had entered Jerusalem, Jesus leaves. Luke concludes with an ascension picture. ![]() Jesus ascended to send the Spirit to send us. “How” is by the power of the Spirit promised by the Father and sent by the Son to us. How? “I am going to send you what my Father has promised” (Luke 24:49). How? “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). Jesus’ power, person and presence must be proclaimed to all. People’s rebellion and alienation must be overcome. People’s way of thinking about God and life must change. Jesus details three elements, “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem ” (Luke 24:46-47). The “must” is the divine imperative which must be accomplished. After his resurrection, Jesus tells his disciples, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44, NIV). Luke presents how the divine purpose in Scripture culminates in Jesus’ ascension. Luke gives us a different emphasis at the end of his Gospel. I have said Ascension Day is all about the cloud – true in the Book of Acts. May 21 is Ascension Day, and May 24 Pentecost.
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