Blessing upon Blessing

Wesley and Calvin looking down upon the reading
room of the Rylands library. Could they be theological
brothers, blessing a new generation of Christ-followers?

Scripture:

Luke 24:50   Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³ and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Observation:

This is Luke’s conclusion to his gospel message, and it includes blessing upon blessing. In the final portion of the gospel “as Jesus departs he bequeaths four things: a new understanding of the word of God, a commission to preach repentance and forgiveness in his name to all the nations, a practice of table fellowship, and the promise of power from on high” (Neale, NBBC). From this, he goes on to bless his followers. 

It is while he is in the act of blessing his entire group of disciples, considered to be about 120 people, that he is carried up into heaven. The scene then shifts from Jesus, to his disciples. They immediately continue to carry on Jesus’ mission in the world. They go to Jerusalem filled with joy, and they worship Jesus along the way. When they get to Jerusalem and reach the temple, not only do they worship, but now, they also bless. 

Application:

I find this idea of blessing really fascinating. So often in life I have experienced the word blessing used in regard to what God does for us. We ask God to “bless” the food. People who are doing well in life will say, “I am so blessed.” Or people will pray for “God’s blessing” in their lives. However, there is something that shifts in this idea of blessing in the closing of Luke’s gospel. While Jesus is still with the disciples, he blesses them. In this moment he is still showering grace upon them, and drawing them along in his mission. Then, even while he is in this act of blessing he is carried up into heaven. His last gracious act is to pour out blessings upon the disciples. 

The scene changes to the on-going worship and praise of the disciples. They go to Jerusalem, and enter the temple, where they are now the ones doing the blessing, and they are blessing God. Instead of calling on God to bless them, they are the ones who are blessing God. It is with hearts filled with gratitude for all that they have experienced that they are no longer the ones receiving the blessing, but are the ones participating in giving out the blessing. 

Luke’s gospel comes to a close with the disciples taking upon themselves the behavior of Christ, no longer receiving, but giving. Years ago when you said the “blessing” for the meal, you didn’t ask God to bless it, you blessed God for his provision. The blessings were to be praises and thanksgiving to God and for other people, that’s what it looks like to be on mission with Jesus. We might even call it participation in prevenient grace. 

Where are we on our discipleship journey? Are we still looking for the blessings of God, or are we participants in blessing others? We have been on a journey of disciple mentoring throughout this entire gospel. In such a subtle way Luke leaves us with this transition from being trained and mentored by Christ, to being prepared to take his place in this world. Together with the disciples of the first century we are now commissioned and sent into the world. It’s no longer time for us to receive the blessings, but to be engaged in blessing God and others. It’s a life of blessing upon blessing. 

Prayer:

Lord, I want to be a participant in your mission. Today, I bless and praise you and ask that you might use me to be a blessing to others. Amen.