Ascension of Christ
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Heaven; that his sympathies were unchanged; that he was identifying
himself with suffering humanity, receiving the prayers of his people;
that he was pleading with God the merits of his own precious blood,
showing his wounded hands and feet, as a remembrance of the price
he had paid for his redeemed. They knew that he would come again
escorted by the heavenly host, and they looked upon this event, not
as a dreaded calamity, but as an occasion for great joy and longing
anticipation. They knew that he would stand again upon the Mount
of Olives, while the Hebrew hallelujahs should mingle with Gentile
hosannas, and myriads of voices should unite in the glad acclamation
of “Crown him Lord of all!” They knew that he had ascended to Heaven
to prepare mansions for his obedient children, and that he would return
and take them unto himself.
With joy the disciples related to their brethren the news of their
Lord’s ascension. They now felt that they had a Friend at the throne of
God, and were eager to prefer their requests to the Father in the name
of Jesus. They gathered together in solemn awe and bowed in prayer,
repeating to each other the assurance of the Saviour, “Whatsoever ye
shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you. Hitherto have ye
asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may
be full.” During the ten days following the ascension, they, with one
accord, devoted the time to prayer and praise, waiting for the descent
of the Holy Ghost. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher,
with the mighty argument, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
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risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.”
“Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world, received up into glory.” The Saviour came
into the world, outwardly the son of David, not manifesting the full
significance of his character. His spirit was subject to that discipline
and experience through which humanity must in some measure pass.
His divinity was veiled beneath humanity. He hid within himself those
all-powerful attributes which belonged to him as one equal with God.
At times his divine character flashed forth with such wonderful power
that all who were capable of discerning spiritual things pronounced
him the Son of God.