April 23| Luke 24:50-53
- Beth Voltmann
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
With Great Joy
By Beth Voltmann
“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany...”
(Luke 24:50)
Have you ever noticed the location Jesus chose for his ascension to heaven? I can’t say that I have! He appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection in various places, but just prior to returning to the Father to prepare a place for his believers, he chose to lead them back to a familiar place – a familial place.
Bethany, located at the base of the Mount of Olives was home to Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This was the place of:
· Great gatherings
· Teachings about the Kingdom at the feet of Jesus
· Deep sorrow as Lazarus died and great joy as Jesus raised him to life again
· Mary’s gift of anointing to Jesus before his death
· And the location from which Jesus began his triumphal entry to fulfill his mission
Faith had been instilled, challenged and strengthened at Bethany, but Christ’s suffering and death had robbed his followers of their hope - it had shaken their faith. Knowing they would lose their way, Jesus shared this promise shortly before his crucifixion:
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again
and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
(John 16:22)
Jesus was true to his word. The grave could not hold him, and upon his return, he sought them out to comfort and reassure their hearts, to remind them of the kingdom of God, and to guide them back to a familiar place where they had been in deep relationship with him. From there, he departed, knowing that, this time, they would not mourn but rejoice as they headed back to Jerusalem to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
(Luke 24:51-52)
Have you lost your way? Is your faith shaken? Do you struggle to trust in God’s promises? Ask the Lord Jesus to come. May he guide you back to that place where you once knew him intimately and trusted in his Word. He is faithful and he will do it. We have reason for great joy!
PRAYER
Come Lord Jesus, we welcome you. Lead us, guide us, teach us, fill us!
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” (Rev. 19:1b)
We worship you and are filled with great joy!
Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BETH VOLTMANN
After moving to Ohio in 1997 with my husband and four children, I developed a hunger for God’s Word through adult teaching and women’s Bible study at UALC. My passion is to help others understand Scripture so that they may grow in their desire for more of God and experience the new life offered to us through Christ Jesus.
Good job, Beth. I needed to hear your words this morning.