Praising God

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

PRAISING GOD

Luke 24:33-53

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."  37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, 3"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?9 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."  40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"  42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."  45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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."  50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

NIV

There is a lot Luke leaves out in his concluding statements about Jesus before his ascension. He says nothing about Jesus preparing the meal on the shore and Peter diving into the water to reach the shore first. He says nothing about the second appearance in the locked room when Thomas had returned and how he was the first one to say, “My Lord and my God”. But what Luke does make sure we know is that it was Jesus who opened their minds. Jesus was right there in their midst yet somehow they still had doubts that it was him. They had the report from the two that were on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus was right there, but doubt was still present also. Why do we doubt when we have so much evidence is amazing. Jesus proves to them he is real, not a ghost, by eating in their presence. Jesus will always prove himself so we can put away any doubts. He will open our minds to the truth. A person can read the entire bible and not know the truth unless Jesus reveals it to them. Of course he is always in the business of revealing, of opening minds, but it still takes the willingness to have our mind opened. Luke also makes sure we know that Jesus is going to send the Holy Spirit to give power from on high. In such a short conclusion Luke gives us many important truths. Jesus was indeed raised in bodily form from the dead, Jesus opens our minds, Jesus will send the Spirit who empowers us from on high, His name will be preached to all nations, and he ascended in that bodily form into heaven. Any doubts about this should be banished from our minds. Yet here we are, at times so easily caught up in our own lives that we sometimes forget how great all this is, and how significant it is for us. Some people may never have experienced the great hand of Jesus in their lives in such as real of a way as others have. Some may only sense the truth, but have never really allowed Jesus to open their minds fully to the truth. Some might believe but still carry even a small amount of doubt about some of the things of God. Some might ask if he really does intervene in our lives, if we really heals, really provides, or really guides our steps. Some have experienced salvation, but have never experienced Pentecost. They do not have the power of the Spirit in their lives. We need to live in the truth of all that we have read. We need to be living in the truth of our redemption, of our salvation, of having our minds opened by Jesus, who is the living Word of God, and we need to be living in the power from on high, the Spirit. If all this is not evidence enough to rejoice and live in the peace of God, having complete trust and faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, then we are without hope. We cannot half believe, we must completely believe. The manner of our life is not the evidence of our faith. We have learned to be content in whatever manner we are in, whether that be in plenty or in need. Our joy is not based on our circumstance, our condition in life. Our joy is based on the truth of God. Our belief is based on this truth. Our life is based on this truth. We have been told that we are the temple of God, he dwells in us, so we will, like those men, continually stay in the temple praising God.