Year C: The Ascension of the Lord: Jesus' Final Instructions and Ascension Luke 24:46-35

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, we gather to reflect upon one of the most profound and transformative moments in all human history – the final earthly encounter between our Lord Jesus Christ and his beloved disciples. As we turn our hearts and minds to Luke's Gospel, chapter 24, verses 46-53, we find ourselves standing on holy ground, witnessing the culmination of Christ's earthly ministry and the extraordinary commissioning of His Church.

Let me read these sacred words to you once more: "He told them, 'This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witness to these things. I am going to send you what my father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.' When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God."

These eight verses contain within them the very DNA of our Catholic faith, the blueprint for our mission as the Church, and the promise that sustains us through every trial and triumph. Today, I want to walk with you through this passage, not as distant observers of ancient history, but as living participants in the ongoing story of salvation that Christ inaugurated on that blessed day near Bethany.

The Foundation of Our Faith: Christ's Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

When Jesus speaks to his disciples in verse 46, saying, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day," he is doing something crucial. He is not merely recounting recent events or offering a historical summary. Instead, our Lord is establishing the unshakeable foundation upon which the entire Christian faith rests. He is revealing to his disciples – and through them to us – that everything that has transpired was not an accident or tragedy, but the fulfillment of God's eternal plan of salvation.

My friends, I want you to understand something profound here. When Jesus refers to "what is written," he draws his disciples' attention to the fact that his passion, death, and resurrection were not a fallback plan. They were not God's emergency response to human sin. From the very beginning, from the moment Adam and Eve fell in the Garden, God had already planned this moment of ultimate love and sacrifice. The suffering of Christ was not meaningless agony, but redemptive love made manifest in the most radical way possible.

Think about what Jesus is telling them – and us. The Messiah must suffer. Not might suffer, not could suffer, but must suffer. This necessity was not imposed by external circumstances or by the cruelty of humanity, though both played their part. This necessity arose from the very nature of love itself. True love, perfect love, divine love requires complete self-giving. And there is no more complete self-giving than laying down one's life for that one loves.

But notice that Jesus doesn't stop with the suffering. He doesn't leave his disciples or us, dwelling in the darkness of Good Friday. He immediately connects the suffering to the resurrection: "and rise from the dead on the third day." This conjunction, this "and" is perhaps the most crucial word in all Christian theology. It tells us that the cross and the empty tomb are inseparable. They are two movements in the same symphony of salvation, two acts in the same divine drama of redemption.

The resurrection validates everything. It proves that Jesus is indeed who he claimed to be. It demonstrates that the father accepted his sacrifice. It reveals that death has been conquered, that sin has been defeated, and that the gates of heaven have been thrown wide open for all who believe. Without the resurrection, the cross would be merely another tragic execution. With the resurrection, the cross becomes the throne from which Love reigns supreme over all creation.

This is why, my dear faithful, we can never separate the suffering of Christ from his glory. We cannot have Easter without Good Friday, and we cannot truly understand Good Friday without Easter. They are the twin pillars upon which our faith stands, the double foundation that can never be shaken, no matter what storms may rage around us.

The Universal Call to Repentance and Forgiveness

But Jesus doesn't stop with establishing the theological foundation. He immediately moves to the practical implications of what his death and resurrection mean for the world. In verse 47, he declares that "repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Here, my friends, we encounter the heart of the Gospel message and our mission as the Church.

Let's unpack this extraordinary statement together. First, notice that Jesus speaks of repentance and forgiveness as inseparably linked. Repentance without the promise of forgiveness would be nothing but despair. Forgiveness without repentance would be a cheap grace that fails to transform lives. However, when these two are combined, we have the power of authentic conversion, the possibility of genuine transformation, and the hope of proper redemption.

Repentance, in the biblical sense, is not merely feeling sorry for our sins, though that is undoubtedly part of it. The Greek word used here, "metanoia," means a complete change of mind, a radical transformation of perspective, a turning around of one's entire life. It's the recognition that we have been living according to our own will rather than God's will, and the decision to reorient our lives toward him.

However, what makes the Christian message so revolutionary, so distinct from every other religious or philosophical system, is that this repentance is not the condition we must meet to earn God's forgiveness. Rather, it's our response to the forgiveness that God has already freely offered us in Christ. We don't repent to be forgiven; we repent because we have been forgiven. This changes everything about how we understand our relationship with God and our approach to the spiritual life.

And notice the scope of this message: "to all nations." Not just to the Jews, not just to the religiously inclined, not just to the morally upright, but to all nations, all peoples, all races, all cultures, all social classes. The Gospel is truly catholic – universal in its reach. There is no one beyond the scope of God's love, no one outside the circle of his mercy, no one whom Christ has not died to save.

The phrase "beginning from Jerusalem" is particularly significant. Jerusalem was the city where Jesus was crucified, where the disciples had fled in fear, and where the religious authorities had seemed to triumph over the message of Christ. Yet it is precisely from this place of apparent defeat that the message of victory will begin to spread. This teaches us that God

 delights in using our failures, our weaknesses, our most broken places as the launching points for his most significant works of grace.

Called to Be Witnesses

In verse 48, Jesus makes a declaration that should send shivers down the spine of every Christian: "You are witnesses of these things." With these simple words, our Lord transforms a small group of frightened disciples into the foundation of his Church. He takes ordinary men and women and entrusts them with the most extraordinary message in human history.

But what does it mean to be a witness? In our legal system, a witness is someone who has witnessed an event and can testify to its occurrence and the truth of what they saw. But in the biblical understanding, being a witness means much more than simply recounting facts. It means allowing your entire life to bear testimony to the reality of what you have experienced.

The disciples were witnesses not just because they had seen Jesus after his resurrection, though that was undoubtedly part of it. They were witnesses because their lives had been transformed by their encounter with the risen Christ. They had experienced forgiveness, known his love, felt his power, and received his peace. Their witness was not just their words but their very beings.

My dear friends, this calling to be witnesses is not limited to the original disciples. Every person who has encountered Christ, every soul who has experienced His forgiveness, and every heart that His love has touched is called to be a witness. We are witnesses by how we live, how we love, how we respond to suffering, how we treat others, especially the poor and marginalized.

But being a witness in our world today is not easy. We live in a culture that is often hostile to the Gospel message. We face ridicule, misunderstanding, and sometimes even persecution for our faith. There are times when we feel like those early disciples – frightened, uncertain, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what we are called to do.

This is why Jesus doesn't leave his disciples – or us – to fulfill this calling in our strength. He immediately follows his commissioning with a promise that changes everything.

The Promise of Power from on High

In verse 49, Jesus makes a promise that would prove to be the game-changer for the early Church: "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Here we see our Lord's perfect understanding of human nature and divine wisdom in preparing his Church for mission.

Jesus knew that good intentions are not enough. He knew that human willpower, no matter how sincere, would not be sufficient for the task ahead. He knew that his disciples would need supernatural power to fulfill their supernatural calling. And so he promises them – and us – the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The phrase "clothed with power from on high" is terrific and instructive. To be clothed with something means having it cover you completely, making it an integral part of your identity and appearance. When we put on clothing, it changes how others see us and often how we see ourselves. In the same way, when we are clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit, it transforms not just what we do but who we are.

This power from on high is unlike worldly power, which dominates and controls. It is the power of love that serves and sacrifices. It is the power of truth that illuminates and liberates. It is the power of hope that sustains and encourages. It is the power that turns cowards into heroes, sinners into saints, and ordinary people into extraordinary witnesses for Christ.

But notice that this power comes with a condition: "Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Jesus commands his disciples to wait. In our instant-gratification culture, this is perhaps one of the most difficult commands to obey. We want to act immediately, to start programs, to launch initiatives, to do something for God right away.

But Jesus knew that trying to serve God without first receiving His power is not only ineffective, but also dangerous. It leads to burnout, discouragement, and ultimate failure. The disciples needed to wait, to pray, to prepare their hearts to receive what God wanted to give them. And so do we.

This waiting is not passive resignation but active preparation. It's the time we spend in prayer, in study of God's Word, in worship, in fellowship with other believers. It's the time God uses to prepare our hearts, to purify our motives, to clarify our calling, to strengthen our faith for the work ahead.

The Blessing and the Ascension

Verses 50 and 51 describe one of the most tender and profound moments in all of Scripture: "When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven."

Can you picture this scene with me? Jesus, who has walked with these disciples for three years, teaching, correcting, encouraging, and loving them through all their failures and fears, now prepares to leave them. But he doesn't leave with harsh words or stern warnings. He doesn't depart with a lengthy list of dos and don'ts. Instead, he lifts up his hands and blesses them.

This blessing is not merely a formality or a polite farewell. In the Jewish understanding, a blessing is a transfer of power, an impartation of favor, a covering of protection. When Jesus blesses his disciples, he is giving them something of himself that will remain with them even when his physical presence is gone.

And notice when this blessing occurs – not before he ascends, but while he is ascending. The very act of his departure becomes an act of blessing. This teaches us something profound about the nature of Christ's ascension. He doesn't leave us as orphans, abandoned and alone. Rather, his ascension is itself a gift to us, opening the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit and his continued presence with us in a new and even more intimate way.

The ascension is often the most neglected doctrine in Christian theology, but it shouldn't be. The ascension means that our human nature, in the person of Jesus Christ, has been exalted to the right hand of the Father. It means that heaven now has a human advocate, someone who understands our struggles because he has shared them. It means that the gap between heaven and earth has been permanently bridged.

But the ascension also means that Jesus' earthly ministry is complete, and his heavenly ministry has begun. He is no longer limited by physical location or temporal constraints. Through his Spirit, he can be present with every believer in every place at every moment. The ascension is not Christ's absence but his omnipresence.

The Response of Worship and Joy

Look at how the disciples respond to the ascension in verse 52: "Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." This response is remarkable when you think about it. Their beloved Lord and Master have just left them. By all human logic, they should be devastated, heartbroken, filled with despair and fear. Instead, they worship and rejoice.

Why? Because they finally understand. They grasp that Christ's departure is not abandonment but commissioning. They realize that the ascension is not the end of their relationship with Jesus but the beginning of a new phase of that relationship. They comprehend that they are not being left alone but are being entrusted with the most important task in human history.

Their worship is the proper response to the revelation of Christ's identity and mission. Throughout his earthly ministry, the disciples had struggled to understand who Jesus was. Now, as they see him ascend into heaven, taken up in glory, they finally grasp the full magnitude of his divinity. They worship because they recognize that they have been in the presence of God himself.

Their joy is the natural result of understanding their calling and receiving his promise. They know that they have been chosen to be part of God's plan for the salvation of the world. They know that they will not face this calling alone but will be empowered by the Spirit of God himself. They know that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will be working in and through them.

This joy is not superficial happiness or emotional excitement. It is the deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing that you are loved by God, called by God, and empowered by God for purposes that extend far beyond your own life and into eternity itself.

Continual Praise in the Temple

The passage concludes in verse 53 with a beautiful picture of the disciples' dedication: "And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." This detail might seem insignificant, but it reveals something crucial about the proper preparation for Christian mission.

The disciples don't immediately scatter to begin their evangelistic work. They don't rush out to start preaching and teaching. Instead, they devote themselves to worship, praise, and prayer in the temple. They understand that effective ministry flows from authentic worship, that powerful witness grows out of a profound encounter with God.

Their continual presence in the temple also demonstrates their commitment to the community. They don't withdraw into private, individual spirituality. They gather, worship together, pray together, and wait together for the promised Spirit. They understand that the Christian life is meant to be lived in community, that we need each other for encouragement, accountability, and mutual support.

Their praise is particularly significant. Praise is the language of faith, the vocabulary of hope, the song of those who trust in God's promises even when they cannot yet see their fulfillment. By praising God continually, the disciples are declaring their confidence that he will do what he has promised to do.

Living This Message Today

My dear brothers and sisters, as we reflect on this magnificent passage, we must ask ourselves: What does this mean for us today? How do we live out these truths in our contemporary context?

First, we must ground our faith in the same foundation that Jesus established for his disciples – his death and resurrection. In a world that offers many competing messages about the meaning of life and the path to happiness, we must remember that our hope rests not in human philosophy or worldly success but in the historical reality of Christ's victory over sin and death.

Second, we must embrace our calling to be witnesses. Every one of us who has experienced Christ's forgiveness and love has a story to tell, a testimony to share. We may not be called to preach from pulpits or serve as missionaries in foreign lands, but we are all called to let our lives bear witness to the transforming power of the Gospel.

Third, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than our strength. Too often, we attempt to live the Christian life and fulfill our Christian calling solely through willpower and good intentions. But Jesus promises us something far better – his own Spirit dwelling within us, empowering us, guiding us, transforming us from the inside out.

Fourth, we must cultivate a life of worship and praise. Like those early disciples, we need to spend time in God's presence, acknowledging his greatness, expressing our gratitude, and opening our hearts to receive what he wants to give us.

Finally, we must maintain our sense of joy and hope, even under challenging circumstances. The same Lord who ascended into heaven nearly two thousand years ago is with us today. The same Spirit who empowered those early disciples is available to us. The same mission that they were called to fulfill continues through us.

Conclusion: Our Ascension Calling

As we prepare to leave this place and return to our daily lives, let us carry with us the profound truths we have encountered in Luke's account of Jesus' final moments on earth with his disciples. We are witnesses of these things. We are called to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations. We are promised power from on high. Our ascending Lord blesses us.

The ascension of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event that happened long ago and far away. It is a present reality that shapes our identity, defines our mission, and guarantees our hope. Because Christ has ascended, we know that our humanity has been glorified. Because Christ has ascended, we know that heaven is open to us. Because Christ has ascended, we know that we are not alone in our struggles and our service.

Like those first disciples, we are called to return to our Jerusalem – our homes, our workplaces, our communities – with great joy. We are called to remain continually in worship and praise, not just on Sundays but throughout every day of our lives. We are called to wait for and depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit for everything we do in Christ's name.

The ascension reminds us that we live between two worlds – the world as it is and the world as it will be when Christ returns. We are citizens of heaven living temporarily on earth. We are ambassadors of the kingdom of God working within the kingdoms of this world. We are witnesses of resurrection life amid a world marked by death.

May the blessing that Jesus pronounced over his disciples as he ascended into heaven rest upon each of us today. May we go forth from this place clothed with power from on high, filled with great joy, and committed to the praise of God in all that we do. May we never forget that we are witnesses to these things, and may our witness be both faithful and fruitful until that great day when he returns in glory.

In the name of the +Father, and of the +Son, and the +Holy Spirit.

Amen.