Christ’s Message to You

“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.’

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.”  Luke 24:44-53

“While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy...praising God”
(vv. 51-53).

What would your response (or mine) have been if we had been there when Christ ascended into heaven, having fulfilled His earthly ministry? Loss, separation, grief, remorse, amazement, fear? Maybe the disciples experienced those feelings, too, but we are told that they “returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.”

Theirs was no “pity party” over losing the Master. The key to their joyful response to His departure is found in the preceding verses. Before leaving, Jesus took the time to explain that His mission was complete; He had accomplished what He came to do.

Furthermore, “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” The disciples had a unique event take place in their lives as Jesus’ words of truth brought a supernatural enlightenment to their understanding.

Today, friend, you can know that same joy His disciples knew; you, too, (by God’s indwelling Spirit) can have your mind opened to understand the Scriptures.

Learn the joy of being taught biblical truth by the Holy Spirit of God.