May 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 24:49–53

Devotional

It is striking that the Lord Jesus, after His resurrection, takes His disciples to the same place that His humiliation occurred. He leads His disciples as far as to Bethany. This is where the Mount of Olives is located. This is the place where Christ suffered the pangs of hell. This is where Christ was like a worm and no man. On this very mount Christ said, “Father, if thou wilt, remove this cup from me.”

Now the place of Jesus’s humiliation becomes the place of His ascension. On the Mount of Olives He is now exalted. This is something Christ vividly experienced. We too must experience humiliation. We must die to self that we may be lifted up with Him. If, however, we are not humbled with Him, we will not be exalted with Him either. If you don’t know this descent into the depths, how shall you be able to rejoice in the ascension into glory?

God leads His people back to the place of His humiliation. “And he led them out as far as to Bethany.” That is to the Mount of Olives. This has special significance for God’s children. The Lord leads His church back to remember from what depths they have been saved. For the exalted Christ will be more precious when we first see Him as the suffering Christ in humiliation. Then we see Christ suffering our curse and our death. Christ was forsaken of His Father. He descended into hell. Now heaven is opened for Him. And through Christ, the disciples also have an entrance into heaven. Sinners worthy of hell are now given an entrance!

Only when we understand something of Christ’s suffering will His ascension become meaningful for us. We will only understand the significance of an open heaven when we first have understood what a closed heaven is. Also personally in our lives we have to experience something of what it means to have an open hell and a closed heaven before us. Only then will there be a need in our lives for this Surety. A miracle happened on the Mount of Olives. A way to heaven was opened for poor sinners who had closed the door!

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.