Luke 24:52Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This exaltation occurred with the consent of the eternal Father, as humanity, united with the divine in the Son, was welcomed into the shared glory of His throne. Consequently, the ascension of Christ signifies our own elevation; where the glory of the Head leads, there also follows the hope of the body. Beloved, let us cry out with fitting joy and celebrate with heartfelt gratitude. For today, we are not only assured as inhabitants of paradise but, in Christ, we have ascended to heavenly heights, receiving through the profound grace of Christ more than what we lost due to the malice of the devil. The one from whom the cunning enemy stole the bliss of the original dwelling is now seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father, alongside the Son of God, who reigns forever with God the Father Almighty and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The tears they shed were sweet, and the hope and joy in their hearts were immense as they witnessed His entry into the eternal homeland, where they recognized God as their Lord, who had already embraced a part of their humanity. It was no mere coincidence that this vision provided them with strength; they offered their praises in the very spot where He had stood, watering His recent footprints with their abundant tears. They then returned to Jerusalem, where they were instructed to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. To be deemed worthy of the heavenly promises, they continually remained in the temple, praising and blessing God, fully aware that the Holy Spirit honors only those hearts that are established in frequent prayer and filled with the praise and blessing of God.

Once they received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, they were to testify about Him beginning in Jerusalem and spreading to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. These were the final words spoken by the Saviour to His followers.

Before their eyes, a spectacle akin to what Elisha witnessed with Elijah appeared, but in a far more glorious manner—no longer a chariot of fire, representing earthly notions, but rather a cloud of glory that ascended from Mount Olivet, taking with it the glorified body of Jesus. As He departed, He lifted His hands in blessing, reminiscent of the priestly blessing, offering His disciples a benediction similar to that given by Elijah to Elisha and by Moses to the leaders of the twelve tribes. The apostles heard from angels, in addition to the Lord's assurance, that He would return one day in the same manner as He ascended, though they were not informed of the timing of that return.

After forty days spent teaching them post-resurrection, the Lord had prepared them for this momentous occasion, prompting them to return to Jerusalem with joy, praising God. They could no longer be criticized for their previous lack of love for Him, as He had previously said at the Last Supper: "If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I said, ‘I go to the Father, for My Father is greater than I’" (John 14:26). Similarly, they were no longer at fault for their doubts, as He had questioned them then, saying, "I go to Him who sent Me. None of you ask Me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I said these things to you, your heart was filled with sorrow. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go; for if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you" (16:5-7). In their current state, they mirrored the image described in the Lord's high priestly prayer (17:6-19): “I have proclaimed Thy Name to the men whom Thou hast given Me out of the world... and they have kept Your Word. Now they have realized that all that Thou hast given Me is from Thee; for the words which Thou hast given Me, I have communicated to them; and they have received and understood truly that I came from Thee, and have believed that Thou hast sent Me.”

Continuing this brief account, Mark summarizes the apostolic journey in verse 20, suggesting that the apostles began preaching immediately after the Lord's ascension. However, Luke's narrative in Acts indicates that the preaching of the apostles regarding the Risen Christ began ten days later, on Pentecost. For those ten days, in obedience to Christ’s command (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4), the disciples remained in Jerusalem. Luke also gives a succinct reference to the apostles fulfilling this instruction.

In his Gospel, Luke briefly notes the ascension (24:50-53), stating that upon returning to Jerusalem, the apostles “were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” Naturally, the apostles would have remained in the temple during prayer times as much as possible. At other times, alongside other believers, they gathered in a private residence, specifically in the upper room (Acts 1:13), a place known for solitude and prayer among Eastern communities.

The Ascension of Jesus Christ took place from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), located approximately six stadia from Jerusalem and near Bethany (Luke 24:50), which lies on the eastern slope of this mountain, about fifteen stadia from the city (John 11:18).

Thus, after conversing with them, the Lord ascended into heaven and took His place at the right hand of God. The apostles proceeded to preach everywhere, assisted by the Lord, with their words confirmed by miraculous signs. They recalled what Christ had instructed them: “Be strong: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way that you saw him ascend.” The disciples worshipped the One who had ascended and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy, where they devoted themselves to prayer until they received the promised Comforter of the Holy Spirit and were endowed with power from on high. Thus concluded the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the account provided here serves merely as a brief glimpse, akin to a single drop from an immense ocean. As affirmed by the beloved disciple, “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”