Great Joy

Luke 24:50-53

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.

Does the disciples’ reaction to Jesus leaving strike you as unexpected? They’ve just spent the last three years going everywhere with him, going through the most extraordinary journey. And when he leaves, they’re not just filled with joy. They’re filled with “great joy.” Luke doesn’t say, but I suspect there are two things they may be thinking.

They may be remembering what Jesus said at his trial: “from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” (Luke 22:69) It may remind them of Daniel 7:13-14:

“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. ¹⁴ 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.”

Jesus has been completely vindicated both by his resurrection and now his ascension. Jesus always was God, come into the world as one of us, but there’s no mistaking it now. Everything the Law and the Prophets said has been fulfilled.

Paul describes it beautifully in Philippians 2:9-11.

^“9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

And they may also be thinking that, although Jesus has left them physically, he’s going to be with them in an even better way – as closely and intimately as its possible – his Spirit is going to fill each of them. They’re not going to just live with him. He’s going to live in them, wherever they go, no matter what happens to them. And Jesus’ Spirit lives in us too.

Both those things are reason for “great joy.”

Jesus, you fill me with great joy too. How else can I respond but to worship and praise you?

Written by David Cornell