50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50-53 KJV)
The Ascension
This evangelist omits the solemn meeting between Christ and his disciples in Galilee; but what he said to them there and at other times, he includes here as part of his account of Christ’s first appearance to them on the evening of his resurrection. He now concludes with a brief account of Christ’s ascension into heaven.
Christ’s goal was to reconcile heaven and earth, acting as a mediator between them. It was necessary that he should move between both realms—coming from heaven in his incarnation to accomplish his mission on earth, and then returning to heaven to represent us before the Father.
He ascended from Bethany, near Jerusalem, by the Mount of Olives. There he had performed significant acts for the glory of God, and from there he entered into glory. That region included the garden where his suffering began, where he endured agony. “Bethany” means “house of sorrow,” reminding us that those who would ascend to heaven must pass through suffering. The Mount of Olives had long been appointed as the place of his ascension: “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives” (Zechariah 14:4). It was also where his triumphal entry into Jerusalem began (Luke 19:29).
He led his disciples out to witness his ascension. He likely ascended early in the morning before the crowds stirred, as he had not shown himself publicly to all people after his resurrection—only to chosen witnesses. The disciples hadn’t seen him rise from the tomb, because seeing him alive afterward was proof enough. But they did see him ascend into heaven, which could not have been known without direct observation. Their eyes were fixed on him.
As a farewell, he lifted his hands and blessed them. He left not in anger but in love, raising his hands like the high priest did when blessing the people (Leviticus 9:22). He spoke with authority, blessing them as Jacob did his sons. The apostles, as representatives of the twelve tribes, received a blessing meant for all spiritual Israel. By this blessing, Christ showed that he had loved his own to the very end.
While he was blessing them, he was taken from them—not abruptly, but to indicate that his departure did not end his blessing. His intercession in heaven would be a continuation of the blessing he began on earth. He blessed them not for themselves alone, but so that through them the blessing would extend to all who believed through their message. In Christ, all families of the earth were to be blessed.
He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Even the closest friends must part. Those who love, pray for, and teach us are taken from us. Christ’s bodily presence would no longer remain in the world. Those who had known him in the flesh must now know him that way no longer. He was taken up not by force, but by his own will and power. As he rose from the dead by his own strength, so he ascended, accompanied by angels, though he needed no help. He went up in a cloud, as the angel had risen in the flame of Manoah’s sacrifice (Judges 13:20).
His disciples remained faithful and joyful, continuing in their devotion even after his departure. They worshiped him (Luke 24:52), acknowledging his divine glory and pledging their loyalty to him as their King. Though he was going into heaven, they remained his willing subjects. The blessing he gave moved them to worship, and this fresh display of his majesty stirred new adoration in them. They knew that, although he had disappeared from their sight, he still saw them and received their worship.
They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Though ordered to wait there until the Spirit was given, and though Jerusalem was full of danger, they went gladly. This was a striking change. Earlier, when Christ said he must leave them, sorrow filled their hearts. But now that they saw him ascend, they were full of joy—convinced that it was better for them and for the Church that he should go away so that the Comforter might come. The glory of Christ became their joy, even in this world. How much more joyful it will be when believers enter the New Jerusalem and see him in his glory.
While waiting for the Father’s promise, they gave themselves fully to devotion (Luke 24:53). They continued attending the temple services during the hours of prayer. God had not yet completely withdrawn from the temple, and neither did they. They were continually in the temple, as their Master had been when in Jerusalem. “The Lord loves the gates of Zion,” and so should we.
Some believe they met as disciples in a room in the temple provided by a Levite sympathetic to them; others think this would have been too public to go unnoticed or unopposed by the temple leaders. They no longer offered sacrifices, knowing Christ’s offering had fulfilled them, but they joined in the songs and prayers. While waiting for God’s promises, we should go out to meet them with praise. Nothing better prepares the heart for the Holy Spirit than joy and thanksgiving. Praise silences fear, soothes sorrow, and strengthens hope.
The “Amen” that concludes appears to be the Church’s response to the reading of the Gospel—a sincere agreement with its truths and a joyful participation in the praise of God. Amen. Let him be continually praised and blessed.