Hands Lifted As He Was Lifted to Heaven
Ascending to New Heights: Devotional # 5 of 40
A New Testament Scripture About the Ascension
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:50–53)
An Old Testament Scripture Reference
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offering. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. (Leviticus 9:22-23)
How Are These Two Passages Related?
The following points summarize some of the observations made in an excellent academic journal article written by Dr. Kelly M. Kapic:1
There are striking similarities between the Greek text of Luke 24:50-53 and the Greek translation of Leviticus 9:22-23.
Luke probably wrote to non-Jews, but his writing exhibits profound Jewish influence. His total references to the Jerusalem temple surpass those of all other New Testament authors combined.2
The phrase "lifting of the hands" is a technical term for when priests provide a blessing.
In both passages, Aaron and Jesus bless the people after making a sacrificial offering.
“One cannot separate atonement from blessing… Jesus blesses his disciples after he had made the perfect and final sacrifice, securing the forgiveness of sins for his people.” (Kapic)
Notice how Luke repeats that Jesus “blessed them.”
“lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them,” (Luke 24:50-51).
What Does This Teach Us About the Ascension?
If Jesus is a high priest who blesses God's people in the very last passage of Luke’s gospel, then this story offers an amazing contrast with Luke’s very first story of Zechariah, the high priest who lost his ability to bless the people due to his sinful unbelief.
And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. (Luke 1:21-22)
Due to Zechariah’s sin, he couldn't speak the priestly blessing.
Yet, through Jesus’ obedience, He did what Zechariah and all of Israel were meant to do: serve as a kingdom of priests and bless all the nations.3
The priests of Israel failed, but Jesus, our High Priest, did not fail!
As a result, we can now live by His Spirit within us and become the holy priesthood that God intended for all humans to become.
Have you received Christ’s blessing?
If not, do it today and put your trust in Jesus’ obedience.
If you have, then how is the Holy Spirit guiding you to be a priestly blessing to the nations? Prayer? Financial offerings? Moving overseas?
Prayer Prompt
Pray that our church will receive Jesus as God's blessing for us, and that it will lead us to be a blessing to all the nations.
The next set of devotionals, including the present one, are my attempts to summarize and make Kapic’s article more accessible for those who are not scholars. However, his article is not too technical, so I would strongly recommend reading the whole thing for those of you who are interested or hungry for more.
On this point see Dennis S. J. Hamm, ‘‘The Tamid Service in Luke-Acts: The Cultic Background Behind Luke’s Theology of Worship (Luke 1:5-25; 18:9-14; 24:50-53; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 30),’’ CBQ 65 (2003): 215-31.
For further study, read: Exodus 19:5-6 and Psalm 67.