Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:44-53 "A TENDER FAREWELL"
Day 362 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:44-53
A TENDER FAREWELL
The last scene of the Lord Jesus Christ with His Disciples was carefully described by Luke. How he must have carefully chosen his words to describe the manner in which Jesus bade His Disciples farewell. Luke wrote,
“And He led them out as far as Bethany,
and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.”
Luke 24:50
Luke described the farewell of Jesus most tenderly. In ancient customs, it was not uncommon to walk with someone a little distance, before saying goodbye. The Disciples knew that Jesus was saying farewell to them. Of course they did not know just how He would be taken from them, but they followed Him anyway.
We are reminded of the time when Elisha was accompanying Elijah on his last journey on earth. Elijah had urged his disciple to return, but Elisha had insisted on staying with him. It did not matter where Elijah wanted to go, Elisha stayed close to him (Cf. 2 Kings 1-2).
Jesus had always led His Disciples, from the very first day they were invited to follow Him. This was the very last day, and He was still the One who “led them”.
The Disciples had been told to stay in Jerusalem to await the outpouring of the Spirit upon them, so that they can be endued with power from on high. But Jesus was leaving them soon, and they sensed it. Thus wherever Jesus went, the Disciples followed Him. How could they bear to part with their beloved, resurrected Saviour?
It was a nostalgic walk to beloved Bethany. Jesus loved this little city for a number of reasons. One of them was that it was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus loved this little family dearly, and had spent much time in this home at Bethany (Cf. John 11:1-2).
Each step must have been taken with sweet memories flooding the senses. This was the final farewell. Jesus led His Disciples as far as Bethany, and then He lifted up His hands symbolically and blessed them.
THE LORD HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO EXTEND HIS BLESSINGS TO MAN
When God created man in His image, He added His blessings. We read,
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image,
according to our likeness…
Then God blessed them…”
Genesis 1:26, 28
It was the dreadful entrance of sin that robbed man of God’s blessings. It was sin that turned God’s blessing into a curse. Solemn were the words God uttered after Adam and Eve sinned against Him.
“Cursed is the ground for your sake…”
Genesis 3:17
It took the death of Jesus to redeem us from this dreadful curse. The Apostle Paul made a most significant remark concerning the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his epistle to the Galatian Church.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us…
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:13-14
Jesus did not just lift up His hands to offer a ceremonial blessing! Through His death, and confirmed through His resurrection, He was able to truly confer His blessings upon His Disciples!
AN IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING GOD’S BLESSINGS
Jesus had pronounced “blessings” on a number of occasions when He ministered on earth. He had in fact preached a powerful and stirring message on the subject of being blessed by God. He had uttered a series of Beatitudes on those who would follow Him and be His Disciples. He had said, “Blessed are you…” (Cf. Luke 6:20-23).
When His Disciples returned after a successful mission preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, He said to them,
“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see…”
Luke 10:23
What a blessing it must have been just to be in the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing to have heard Him preach and seen Him minister to the multitudes! Are those days of blessing over forever? The Apostle Paul offered an important theological understanding concerning the blessings of God.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places in Christ…”
Ephesians 1:3
The Lord Jesus came to remove the curse that sin brought on mankind. His work of redemption as the Lamb of God more than made up for the sins of the world. He had taken the sins of mankind on His shoulders.
He was now truly in the position to bless, and bless He did. His beloved Disciples would be the first group of people to receive His blessing. Every believer would be blessed similarly. What a beautiful parting scene that was. That memory would be etched in the hearts of the Disciples forever. They would always remember their Teacher blessing them. How we must always remember with love the Lord’s blessings.