The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-04

tnre glorics, but above all the servants and rep.
rcsentatircs OF Him whom they had followed
COMMAND. .--(Ncises 4 and 81. When Jesus dc.
parted, the apostles were not qualified for the
work imposed upon theIn-thcy lacked knowl.
edge inspiration and courage. Thus far they had
depended upon their Master and without Him
they would he quickly discouraged (Lulic xiv:
III. AS a mode of equipment for their high ser.
vice. 1t had been promised that another should
come TO he with them forever (John xiv: 16).
The holy man should be succeeded by the Holy
Ghost John Niv: 20), the incarnatc, visible Di.
vine person by the spiritual invisible Divine per.
son. That promise, made by Jesus was also
| made by the Father (Iocl IL 2s) centuries be.
fore. And so when Jesus has assembled the apos.
ties lie expressly commanded them to remain in
Jerusalem few days until this promise was ful.
hlled He proposed to begin this new dispensa.
tion in the metropolis of the jews in the center
of religious influence, in the city where lie had
been condemned
| QuEST10N.-(Nerses and ~ little Incl.
dent is thrust into the narrative at this ponC to
show how greatly the apostles needed what had
been promised, how utterly untitled they were
| without it to be the ministers of Christ. When
they came together to receive these last insttuc.
| lions, perhaps after they had been told to wait
| Tor the baptism, they turned TO the Master and
! questioned whether he would at that time restore
the kindgdom to Israel. This shows that they
still failed to understand the mission OF Jesus
| they still thought of him they had previously
done (Niltt. XN: 2D as the Messiah who would
break the, Roman yoke and rc.estubsh the jewish
| monarchy, fulfilling the chief hope OF the nation. |
| 1t was with infinite tenderness that Jesus dealt
| with those ignorant and misguided men, He
| merely informed them that they were not per- |
mitted to know the times appointed OF God q |
| Thess. vD, neither asserting nor denying any. |
| thing on the subject presented by them.
WlTNESSEs.-(vcrsc 81. Immediately Jesus |
turned the thoughts OF the little company to |
other matters. They had been anxious about
civil government, he would have them interested |
in the heavenly Kingdom. They had desired po.
litical preerment duke xxii:2D, he would en-
list them in spiritual service. They mist be
His witnesses, at home and abroad, proclaming
Him and His cause, setting forth His teachings,
telling of His glory, winning men TO Him, so
building up worldwide society that should be
altogether His. As witnesses they must speak
from personal knowledge gained in their three
years OF intercourse. This would be the one
human instrumentality appointed to make con-
terts the testimony of living men who had
been with Jesus (Acts iv:l3j. This was vastly
more important business than anything polit
ical And for that service they should receive
the power of the Holy Ghost, Divine power,
qualifying them, overcoming their timidty, IL
Illuminating their minds (John WILD
ASCENSlON.--(Versc9 81 These were the last
words spoken by Jesus to the apostles. They
were not able to receive all that he vealncd to
give (John Nvi:l2). His bodily presence had
been snare to them, causing even at the last
moment Il misintcrprctaton Of his words 1t was
eNpedient for Him therefore to go away. to re-
move from their sight that another presence
might come to their spirits (John Xvi:O. And
with this promise OF that other presence and this
brief statement OF their new and exalted mission
in their whose yprv -hnv |
N knew, he disappeared, slowly rising above
the earth while their eyes fixed upon Him,
until Il cloud concealed Him from their sight.
Let those who will speculate concerning that
ascension--thc disposition of the body the rcll.
tion Of the material to the immatorial world,
and other subjects have been long discussed with
little profit. 1t is enough to know that the ply
sical part OF Jesus disappeared that day. /
RETURN.-VeIscs 10 and lly. There is here
introduced into the narrative of Luke a state.
mcnt, found nowhere else, that has caused much
discussion in the church. lie asserts that two
men. evidently angels, the number the same on
previous occasions Iukc NXiv:D, informed the | {
apostles as they galed into the heavens that ;
Jesus would return to the earth in the same
way. Somc have affirmed that this was not real
but imaginary, resulting from the excitement I
of the hour. But later references would dis ,
credit any such view q ThcSs v:lG). Tic sec.
ond advent is plainly taught by Paul and the
other sacred witclS (Rev. i:7), and has been
firmly held by the church in al countries But :
what is that next coming? When will it occur?
What will precedc and what will follow? These
questions, unanswered in Scripture, have led to
the formation OF sccts and have influenced thco.
logical systems and missionary policies. There
is no space here for statement of tn.
conflicting opinions, and some have wondered
that Luke should put into his history such Il
meager statement, which must provoke unproGt-
able speculation.
PRNER.-(NcrscS u, H. III. The apostles
thus left alone Immediately manifested the spirit
OF unity and OF iaitlI. They cung together,
Neld by common purpose and need, and they
departed from Mount Olivct where the asrcn- |
sion occurred, and entered Jerusalem which was
near. They went up into room, probably the
'amc which Jesus had used Uuke XXiil2) en-
lcarcd TO them by that fact, which indeed had
become an abiding place. The roll call shows
that the eleven, not mentioned in the order
given in the gospel (Nat. N2n, Mary. The
mother of Jesus only being named. \ large
'ompany OF disciples appears to lave Joined tho
lpostlcS Nersc l5> That was the church, the
"lnnant of n hundred aud twenty souls wcd.d
ogchor What is particularly noteworthy tho
l"arS OF all turned hcavcnward. They iclt that
hey were needy and that only by Gods bless
nG could their need he supplied. They rencm
Icred the mission and the promise and they
fTIleu III idltn asking and expecting, ready
. do when qualifcd-a typical prayer meeting.
CoNCLT TSION.-Thc end was reached which tho
saviour desired in his command TO tirry. He
lld not aL 'hr beginning seek a company OF men
II splendid talent and OF social position-~thsy
would come aftrrward in Paul CActs iX:iO.
The foundations could be best laid 10y the humble
who had learned tc look mp dam. iii:iD, who
would hc submissive TO Divine Influences that
he glory might the moro evidently he given IN
iod uI Cor iv:O An opening chapter in
hrisian history must he written To which all
Jer generations may turn with assurance that
Divine power wrought in the opening oi the dis.
'ensalion Jesus limited His disciples, and they
frward limited themselves by chcerfulh ur.
cptipg His word, to conditions that rendered
u human combinations and schcning impossible.
hos" siN score men ana women, pleading with
iod exhibited the method of the gospels tri.
nlph tHcClL iv'Gl, and prefgllrcd the pattern
lnrrh Of all after times, Their success or fail.
ne in prayer will make or doom the cause oi
hrist