A Journey with Jesus: Worship

The gospel of Luke ends where it begins. As we come to the conclusion of our series through Luke, we read the final verses of Luke’s first volume. These final verses will transition well to the second volume of Luke called Acts.

Read Luke 24.50-53.

Our dominant thought for today is, “When the King is on the throne we respond with bended knees and outstretched arms.”

As we move through these final verses on Luke, we see two actions of Jesus and four responses from His followers.

Jesus leads His people with blessing (Luke 24.50-51). Luke may be portraying Jesus like Moses who before he left his people gave them blessings. Just before we read about Moses climbing Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34.1) and die, Moses the great prophet blesses the tribes of Israel.

Listen to some of the blessings from Deuteronomy 33.

To Levi, “bless all his skills, LORD, and be be pleased with the work of his hands” (Deut. 33.11).

To Joseph, “May the LORD bless his land” (Deut. 33.13).

To Asher, “The eternal God is your refuge” (Deut. 33.27).

Earlier in Luke’s gospel, Jesus blessed his disciples.

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God (Luke 6.20).

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied (Luke 6.21).

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man (Luke 6.27).

Jesus leaves his people, but we are not left alone (Luke 24.51).

It is important to remember that Jesus did not ascend into heaven on Easter evening after He had his fish sandwich.

In Luke’s second volume in Acts 1.3, Jesus presented himself to the apostles and “gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

From Luke 9.31 and Luke 9.51, Luke was preparing his audience for this moment of departure: his exodus (Luke 9.31) when he would be taken up (Luke 9.51).

This ascension moment creates a clear break in the story of Jesus. He is returning back to heaven. He has completed His mission and is empowering His disciples to carry on the mission.

Luke 24:45–49 NIV

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 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 at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of 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.”

The letter “U” gives us a good picture of the mission of Jesus. He left heaven to descend to earth. He died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. Then, He ascended to heaven as King.

What happens in Luke 24.51 describes the coronation of the king. This king carries more authority than your homecoming or prom royalty. This king reigns over all kingdoms on the planet throughout history.

The Apostle Paul gives Timothy a beautiful hymn or poem to describe the mission of Jesus when he writes to him in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 3:16 ESV

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Jesus left for heaven to take His seat next to the Father to reign as King.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 96th birthday on April 21, 2022. She has served as queen for 70 years. For most of us, Queen Elizabeth II is our reference point for a coronation. The ascension of Jesus is His coronation as King. Taken up in glory!

Joel Green highlights, “Indeed, taken together, Luke 24 and Acts 1 provide the transition in the Lukan narrative from the story of Jesu to the story of His witnesses” (The Gospel of Luke, NICNT).

So, if Jesus is the King, then how to His followers respond? In Luke 24.52, the disciples respond in four ways: worship, blessing God, return and remain in Jerusalem, and respond with joy.

The disciples worship King Jesus. The ascension of Jesus gives us a clear picture of Jesus as King. The image of Jesus as King gives us peace and confidence in these politically charged climates. Please remember that no matter who’s sitting in that chair in the oval office or in the state house Jesus reigns as King of the universe.

The ascension of Jesus gives us a clear and more complete picture of Jesus. He’s the victorious King of the universe.

Robert Peterson refers to the ascension as “the great linchpin of Christ’s saving work”—because it forms the transition from Jesus’s earthly ministry to his heavenly ministry. Without this linchpin, the wheels would come off our salvation.[1](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-reasons-ascension-matters/) It is not until the final verse of Luke’s gospel that we have the disciples of Jesus “worshipping” Jesus.

Daniel 7:13–14 NIV

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The disciples bless God. The disciples speak well of God. They bless the one who blesses them. The gospel ends where it begins. In Luke 1.42, Elizabeth who’s pregnant with John visits her cousin Mary who is also pregnant. Elizabeth greets Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Even as Jesus was in the womb of His mother, people were blessing Him and praising Him. In these opening chapters of Luke, we have others who bless God. Zechariah sings, “Praise be the the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them” (Luke 1.68). In Luke 2.28, “Simeon took him [baby Jesus] in his arms and praised God...”

What does blessing God look like in your life?

The disciples obey Jesus. In Luke 24.49, Jesus tells them to wait in Jerusalem until they have been clothed with power from on high. The Holy Spirit will come and empower them for their mission to preach the good news of God’s forgiveness to all the nations.

The gospel ends where it begins. There was another follower of God who stayed continually at the temple worship night and day (Luke 2.37). Her name was Anna.

The image of the temple where heaven and earth meet reminds us of the priestly service of God’s people.

The gospel ends where it begins. In Luke 1, we met Zechariah, a priest serving in the temple. An angel appears to him and says you will have a son. He’s not so sure since he is old and his wife is “well along in years.” They have a son, whom they name John, who will prepare the way for Jesus.

The disciples trade fear with great joy. This joy echoes back to the announcement from the angels to the shepherds, tiding of good news of great joy!

Luke 2:10 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

How will you respond to King Jesus today? Will you bless Him with your words? Will you bend your knees in worship? Will you obey His commands and serve in His mission? Will you realize that His victory as King can replace your fear with great joy?

The gospel does end where it begins. We have disciples of Jesus worshipping and gathering at the temple awaiting the power from on high.

Luke began his gospel by addressing a man named, Theophilus, someone who loved God, at least with his name. In Luke 1.1-4, Luke writes an orderly account for Theophilus so that he may know the certainty of the things that he had been taught. Luke laid out the picture of Jesus born of a virgin. Jesus who defeated the temptations of the evil one. Jesus who amazed people with His words and works. Jesus who gathered disciples. Jesus who was innocent and yet was killed. Jesus who was buried, but on the third day rose from the dead. Jesus who blesses His people and returned to heaven as a victorious king. Luke wants Theophilus to see this picture of Jesus.

What Luke wants Theophilus and all who hear his story to remember is: When the king is on His throne, we respond with bended knees (worship) and outstretched arms (service).

Let’s continue our worship to hear how God’s message of forgiveness reaches the nations through our mission partners in the Philippines.

Related Media

Related Sermons