Luke 24:50-53
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Reflection
Everything that happened with Jesus is “gospel” or good news because through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension God is forgiving our sins, blessing us, and giving us his peace (Luke 1:67–79; 2:14; 24:50–51). The result of God’s gracious blessing, and the most proper and beautiful response to the gospel of Jesus, is our joyful worship (vv. 52–53).
2 Timothy 2:8-13
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
0 for he cannot deny himself.
Reflection
Paul continues his call to endurance. The opening words of the command to “Remember Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:8) call for the remembrance of two things: first, Jesus was “risen from the dead,” and second, he was “the offspring of David.” By remembering Jesus’ resurrection, we recall the gospel’s awesome power (cf. Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 15:20–22; Eph. 1:19–20). By remembering Christ’s lineage, we recall God’s awesome faithfulness to his Word and the promises made in the Old Testament (2 Sam. 7:12–16; cf. Luke 24:26–27). If we are to persevere, we must set our minds on Jesus Christ.
Paul’s call for endurance now includes an easy-to-remember poem. The fourth stanza, that begins with “if we are faithless,” is followed by a surprise response, one that is gloriously gracious: “he remains faithful” (2 Tim. 2:13). Here is unforgettable comfort for all who attempt to endure for the gospel. Though we may sometimes waver and fall into unfaithfulness in our efforts to endure, God remains faithful. No one is always loyal; only Jesus is perfectly faithful. And yet in the gospel we learn that it is the faithfulness of Jesus that makes a way for God to show favor to faithless sinners like us. How encouraging to all who desire to endure!
Psalm 66:1-4
66: Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Spend some time responding to the gospel of Jesus by simply worshiping God today for what he has done.