BLESSING
Throughout the Bible, blessings play a crucial role in conveying God’s favor, protection, and grace upon His people. This practice, deeply rooted in the Old Testament, continues through the New Testament and reaches its culmination in Jesus’ final blessing of His disciples before His ascension.
THE AARONIC BLESSING
In the Old Testament, God gave a beautiful formula for blessing to Aaron through Moses: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Num 6:24-26).
This blessing, known as the Aaronic Blessing, was to be pronounced by the priests over the Israelites. It invokes God’s protection, favor, grace, and peace upon the recipients. The power of this blessing lies not in the words themselves but in God’s promise to bless His people through it (Num 6:27).
Jesus’ Farewell Blessing
In the New Testament, Jesus, our Great High Priest, offers a final blessing to His disciples before His ascension: “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” (Lk 24:50)
This scene is reminiscent of Aaron blessing the Israelites after offering sacrifices (Lev 9:22). Just as Aaron’s blessing followed a sacrificial act, Jesus’ blessing comes after His ultimate sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. The disciples would have understood the significance of this gesture, recognizing Jesus as fulfilling and surpassing the priestly role.
The Blessing of Christ’s Hands
Luke specifically mentions Jesus lifting up His hands to bless the disciples. These were the same hands that bore the marks of crucifixion, now raised in blessing. This powerful image would have reminded the disciples of Christ’s sacrifice and victory over death, serving as a constant source of encouragement in the challenging times ahead.
Paul’s Trinitarian Blessing
The apostle Paul, understanding the importance of blessing in the Christian faith, offers a Trinitarian blessing formula in his letter to the Corinthians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Cor 13:14). This blessing encapsulates the Christian understanding of God’s nature as Trinity, emphasizing the distinct roles of each Person while affirming their unity.
REFLECTION
As followers of Christ, we are called to be both recipients and givers of blessings. Here are some key takeaways for us:
1. Embrace God’s blessing: Remember that God desires to bless you. Meditate on the Aaronic blessing and Paul’s Trinitarian blessing, allowing their truths to sink deep into your heart.
2. Live as blessed people: Recognize that you are blessed to be a blessing to others. Let God’s favor flow through you to those around you.
3. Practice blessing others: Follow Jesus’ example by blessing those in your life through prayer, words of encouragement, or acts of kindness.
4. Remember the source of blessing: All blessings ultimately come from God. Let your blessings always point people back to Him.
5. Look forward to the ultimate blessing: Just as Jesus’ final earthly act was to bless His disciples, we can look forward to the day when we will experience His blessing face to face in eternity.
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, let us hold fast to the truth that we serve a God who blesses His people. May we live as those who are blessed by God and called to be a blessing to others, always pointing to the ultimate source of all blessings – our Lord Jesus Christ.