Dearest e-votees-
Thursday of this week is the Day of Ascension. It is 40 days from Easter to Thursday counting partial days (in the same way that Friday to Sunday is “on the third day”). We will use one of the appointed texts for the Day of Ascension for our focus this week.
May we be blessed as we continue to abide in the good news of the empty tomb. May we take that good news and ways of blessing out into the world.
Peace,
Karl
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44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 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.
You can find lots of references to the “law and the prophets” or “Moses and the prophets” in scripture. This threefold formulation of “law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms” is particular to this one verse in Luke. Luke, the one who carefully collects all the details for his two volume Luke-Acts account addressed to Theophilus (“lover of God”), reports this completion of the expectations of the law and the prophets and the psalms. Jesus opens the mind of the disciples and the two who had been on the road to Emmaus and reminds them of why he came and what the significance of his death and resurrection were. He equips them and sends them to be witnesses. He tells them to linger a bit longer in the city until they have been clothed with power from on high. In 10 short days (50 from Easter) the Holy Spirit will come with great flourish at Pentecost.
In Jesus we have the fulfillment of the requirements of the law. What we are unable to do Jesus does. Thanks be to God.
In Jesus we have the fulfillment of the revelations of the prophets. The dreams and visions and moral correctives of the prophets find their fulfillment in Jesus. Thanks be to God.
In Jesus we have the fulfillment of the psalms. The songs and prayers and longings and deep humanity of the psalms find their fulfillment in Jesus who was as truly human as he was truly God. Thanks be to God.
When we know our time on this earth is long our conversation drifts to lesser things—sports, weather, passing thoughts and idle chatter. When we are with one who is dying or when we know we are leaving for a good long while the conversation takes a decidedly different tone. Jesus knows where he is going and so speaks with gravitas before he defies gravity and leaves this world. He summarizes his life and ministry and tells the disciples, and us, to wait for power from on high and to be witnesses.
Jesus knows a thing or two about communication and body language. The image that he leaves is one of blessing. He could have chosen to point a threatening finger or two—particularly given the not so stellar performance of the disciples around the time of Holy Week. He could have done the “I’m watching you” gesture by pointing at his eyes and then his disciples letting them know that they were in deep trouble if they failed him again. He could have taken a more triumphant pose as he ascended. He chose none of these. But the one who came to serve and not to be served chose a posture of blessing. God’s move towards us is one of healing and restoration and blessings. God would have us be more like that with the world as well. Thanks be to God.
God, open Your holy scriptures to us. Help us see in Jesus the true fulfillment of the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms. Stir us to be Your people and Your witnesses. Help us receive every good blessing from You that we might in turn go and bless the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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