The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-11

u. Many hold that the body resurrected was
the same rs that buried, and only terminated.
He declared that he had flesh and bones (St
Luke, "a: 39). and yet we know that flesh and
blood cannot be admitted into Heaven IL is
thought by diligent studeHts that the change
which came over thc body of our Savior, fitting
II for Paradise and Heaven, took place after his
ascension, and while way to the glorifed
state-the home of spiritual bodies.
3. "All things mist be fulfilled which were
written in the law of rrophets-psalms
concerning me-" What a claim for any ordi-
nary being to make! What presumption for
man to declare that the whole burden of the
Bible is himself! Jesus was either fearful
egotist, or else more than man. Compare V.
81
4. Opened their understanding" V. 45.
This is equivalent to their eyes were opened"
V. 80. And this corresponds with heart
opened" in Acts, L. II. So the Psalm
list prayed, "Open Thou mime eyes. that may
behold wondrous things out of Thy law" Ps..
1l9: IL. The Law" is a general term for all
the Old Testament. As our Savior talk ed with
the Ten and their associates the Holy Scrip
lures seemed new Book-hidden meanings
disclosed themselves-their Bible appeared to
be new revelation. From St. John, 90 9, we
found the Apostles did not get into the spirit
of the Scriptures
THE ASCENSION.
l. Data.
st. Mark, 16 10; St. Luke, "a: 5O-53; Acts,
1:9-12.
Neither writer was witness and no witness
gives account. Scriptural revelation is not de-
pendent on personal experience. Such a theory
as that ono cannot give n statement of only
things seen aud heard by him. would dispense
with testimony and inspiration. See Pet,
l:2l.
g Time.
The Ascension took place on Thursday, April
%, A. ID. %. 1t was 40 days after the Resur-
rection ACTS 1 81 and 10 days before the PEN
tecost Day.
3. Place
Christ assembled from spot on Mt. Olives one
Sabbath Days journey from Jerusalem. Acts,
LIZ. Sabbath Days journey was 1000
cubts. Each cubit was 1.S24 feet, and hence
the distance WAS seven-tenths of n mile. But
the account given in ST. Lukcs Gospel says the
Ascension occurred at Bethany. st. Luke,
"a 90. But st. John, IL Is. says Bethany
was about 10 furiongs from Jerusalem-that is
to say, about two miles Bethany was the
name. probably, not only Of the village. but of
tue town, and the town would reach. not I'M
likely, quite 10 the summit of Mt. Olives.
and so include the spot which seven-teuths
OF mile from the Capital. The same writer
was the author OF both accounts.
A. The ascension.
We mean hy the Ascension that Christ's !
body-the body apparently in which Christ I
suffered and died-thc body that rose from the /
dead relieved of all the effects of decease, in J
vigorated with new life as recovery from the I
marTing received in his human struggle-that |
said body rose higher and higher from sight
till ont of vision way to the former Home /
of Christ. In the process it probably lost all
human weak uesses aud wants, aud was fitted
for the life in glory.
5. Reasons for the ASCENSION.
!. To fulfill prophecies. ps., 6s:18. CT
Eph.. 4 s.
2. To iutercede for sinners. Heb 9:2f
g. To secure Gods Endorsement. Phil, go,
,, 10.
4. To attract us toward Heaven.
5. To prepare mansions for US.
q. To display his triumph over all foes.
z. To give gifts to men.
). To show his work on earth was finished I
81. John l7:5.
9. To take the throne as our King
10. To be at Home
il. To give greater universally to Christi
nifty.
II. To send the Holy Spirit. st. John. 1877.
6. The ASCENSION in Art.
Nearly every master has attempted the AS
enslOn. and so we have q diversity Of paint
ngs. Hogarth naiuted Tho Ascension " for
he decoration of the altarpiece in st. Mary's,
Radcliffe, Bristol, England
In the Laurentiniau Library, Florence. there
5 extant III Syrian Evangearium. dated A.
}. $50, represent ation of the crueifxion, to-
ether with companion picture illustrating
he Ascension. Prof. Piper says: These are
he oldest pictorial representations of tho
artlIly life of Jesus and his exaltation."
2. Celebration Of The ascension.
The tRoman) Catholic, Greek, and Anglican | :
hurcires Inclusive Of the American Episco- ,
al) keep in memory the Ascension of our Say
1r by special religious services on the 10th day
fter Easter every year, and therefore always 7
n Thursday. a4