Twelve Features of abundant life in Christ (7-12).
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50).
7. Peaceful spirits “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you’” (v. 36).
Christ brings peace to our hearts. The disciples didn’t begin to enjoy His peace until He showed them His hands and feet. Our peace in Christ is based upon the sacrifice of Christ. We should never lose sight of its reality and the perfect salvation it has secured.
8. Opened minds “And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (v. 45).
The Lord wants us to have burning hearts, and He also wants us to have spiritual minds that understand the word of God. In these ways, we are personally blessed and become a blessing to our fellow believers and to our neighbours. At the beginning of His ministry, the Lord demonstrated that God’s word is central to the pathway of faith (Luke 4:4).
9. Empowered witness “And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (vv. 48-49).
Witnessing can be nerve-racking. It is important to remember we are not alone in this endeavour. The Lord stands with us, and the Spirit of God indwells us.
10. Constant blessing “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven” (vv. 50-51).
The last vision the disciples had of the Lord Jesus was of Him ascending into heaven, with His arms outstretched and the wounds on His hands visible, so that we would know His love, care and blessing are unceasing.
11. Joyful worship “And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (vv. 52-53). Luke records that before the disciples began their witness to Christ at Pentecost, there was a period of joyous worship. Service should always be preceded by worship; it should always accompany worship, and it should always end in worship.
12. Certain hope “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Just as angels announced the birth of the Saviour, so it was their privilege to announce the return of the Saviour and affirm in our hearts the hope we have in Christ: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
