Luke the physician wrote how Jesus' disciples watched Jesus as, “he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven”, and in chapter one and verse twelve of the book of Acts Luke wrote how Jesus' disciples, “returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet” where we read:
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
The verse begins, “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, ...” Luke began with the words, “then returned they” which means “at that time they, Jesus' disciples, went and turned back” “unto Jerusalem” or “to the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “from the mount called Olivet” which means “apart and separate from the rising above the plain known as Olivet which means olive press and was known as the Mount of Olives”. Luke shared how Jesus' disciples went back to “Jerusalem” from the “Mount of Olives” where they watched Jesus ascend into the sky.
The verse continues, “... which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.” Luke added the words, “which is from Jerusalem” or “that is apart, separate and a distance from Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine of about” “a sabbath day's journey” which means “the distance one could travel upon seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. Luke shared how the “Mount of Olives” was the distance from Jerusalem of about a “Sabbath day's” travel which was about “a thousand paces, two thousand cubits or seven or eight furlongs away”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the disciples of Jesus obeyed His instruction to remain in Jerusalem until they received power on high. Jesus had ascended into Heaven, and now His disciples were to go back to their starting point and wait. Because the distance between the “Mount of Olives” was near to Jerusalem, Jesus' disciples went back that day. God desires this type of relationship with every person. He wants them to yield their life to His Son Jesus to receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with Him, and He desires to lead them through their obedience to His words. Those who are wise will see the wisdom in Jesus' disciples to obey Him, and in the coming verses observe the blessings that come from following His commands.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus' disciples, “went up into an upper room”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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