God’s Guarantee
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem
Luke 9:51
It’s surprising how much of Luke (and the other gospel writers) devote to Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. In Luke it’s 9:51 through to 19:41.
This journey was undertaken by religious Jews three times a year. While Jesus is going to be in Jerusalem for Passover, He doesn’t seem to be with the great throng of northerners heading south into Jerusalem at this time.
But He does seem to be doing something the Jewish pilgrims always did. On the journey it was customary to talk about God’s great interventions that the Feast periods celebrated. The greatest of these would have been the exodus.
In the scripture above though, it is not the exodus that is emphasised but the ascension. Luke’s term translated ‘to be taken up to heaven’ means “to be received up.” In context, the term is being used of the Father “receiving Jesus up” after His death.
In the Transfiguration conversation the exodus was central (Luke 8:31). The exodus brought God’s people out of their bondage. This exodus will do the same. But the exodus will be completed with Christ’s resurrection and ascension.
Paul rightly points out that the proof of the power of Jesus’ death to save was God the Father’s tumultuous action in raising Him from the dead (Romans 1:4). The power of the coming Exodus will be guaranteed by God Himself. As proof of His guarantee He will resurrect His eternal Son from death, guaranteeing the resurrection of every single soul who places their faith in Christ.
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