He Lifted His Hands and Blessed Them
Month 12: Risen & Sending · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 24:50-53
50 When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 praising God continually in the temple.
Memory Verse
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””— Matthew 28:19-20 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Revelation 14-16
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 363 of 365 — God's purposes are brought to completion.)The Heart of It
Luke gives us the most tender picture of the Ascension. Jesus leads His friends out toward Bethany. There He lifts up His hands and blesses them. And here is the beautiful detail. "While He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." The very last thing the disciples saw Jesus do was bless them. His hands were raised over them in blessing as He rose. They were the very same hands that had been pierced on the cross. He did not leave with a scolding or a long list of warnings. He left with His hands lifted in favor over His people.
Look at how they respond. "They worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God." This is the only time in the Gospels that people are joyful Jesus is leaving. And that is because they finally understood. He wasn't being taken away from them. He was being lifted to His throne, and a blessing was resting on them. A home shaped by the risen Christ is meant to look like that. It is full of joy and worship. It knows that the wounded, risen, reigning Jesus has His hands lifted over us in blessing. That changes how a family lives. We are not anxious and striving. We are glad and grateful under the favor of God.
Around the Table
The very last thing Jesus did before He went up was lift His hands and say a big blessing over His friends. He loves to bless you too!
Let's do it: Have Dad lift his hands over the family and say, "May Jesus bless you and keep you!"
The disciples were happy when Jesus went up. They worshiped and praised God. They knew He was going to His throne.
Let's talk: Why could the disciples be joyful instead of sad when Jesus left?
The last thing the disciples saw was Jesus' pierced hands raised in blessing. Luke ends his Gospel with worship and "great joy."
Let's go deeper: How does it change the way you face a hard week to know that Jesus' hands are lifted in blessing over you?
💬 Conversation Starter
A blessing is a kind, hopeful thing you say over someone. What blessing could you speak over someone in our family tonight?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Skeptics ask why the followers of a "failed" teacher would be filled with joy. Yet Luke records them going home with "great joy" and praising God all the time. That kind of steady, fearless gladness fits men who were sure they had seen their Lord risen and ascended. It does not fit men who were covering up a defeat ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Fathers, take this picture to heart. Jesus' final posture toward His people is open hands of blessing. So much of our parenting can drift toward critique. We see the behavior to correct, the expectation that wasn't met, the warning to give. But the risen Christ ascended while blessing His disciples, and that sets the tone for how a Christian home should feel. Speaking blessing over your children is deeply biblical. Think of the patriarchs, and of Aaron's blessing in . It costs nothing and shapes everything. Before this year of devotions closes, consider building a habit. Literally lay a hand on each child and speak favor over them in Jesus' name. They should grow up certain that, like Jesus, their father's last word over them is blessing.
Draws on: Gary Smalley & John Trent, The Blessing.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, the last thing You did before heaven was bless Your people. And You still bless us today. Fill our home with worship and joy. Help us speak kind words and blessing over one another. In Jesus' name. Amen."
The risen Jesus has His hands lifted over me in blessing. I can live glad and unafraid.