The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-29
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5lu7oosJ- School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTs FOR JANUARY 8.

Subject The Ascension of Our Lord,
Aers 1:1-l4--GoIden Text, Luke
24:51-C Commit Verses 8. o.
Exposition of the Lesson.
TlNlE.--Tllursday. May IS, 4. D.
80 PLACE. Jerusalem and Oliyet.
EXPOSITION. - T. The Risen
Christ, TO. The former treatise
is the gospel of Luke (Luke i: 1-4).
The subject of the gospel was what
Jesus began to do and teach. The
subject OF the Book .of Acts Is what
Jesus continued to do and teach faf-
ter His ascension) Just before His
ascension He had given the disciples
commandments (cf. Matt 28:l9. 20:
NIX. 16s15-19; Luke 24:45-49; CHI.
| 10s40-42). He had given these com
mandments, after His resurrection,
in the power of the Holy Spirit. What
an honor this puts upon the Holy
Spirit, and how it emphasizes the i'm
portance of His work (cf. Cor. "a;
Thess. 1:5). Jesus was taken up
into heaven" (Luke 24;51; CT. l. Pc
ter 3:22). The all-suficient proof
that Jesus rose was that He was seen
through forty days after His suffer-
ings and death He showed Himself
alive by many proofs Forty days.
Is the period of thorough testing
(Deut. 80, IS; K 1873; Matt.
4:2). During the forty days there
was one subject of conversation, the
things concerning the kingdom of
God.N AS the days of communion
With the risen Christ drew to close
Jesus laid solemn charge upon them
not to take up the commission Of
worldwide evangelization that He
had laid upon them until they had
received the all-essential fitting for
the work, the promise of the Faith
En-, the baptism with the Holy Spirit
Tvs. 4, 5; CT. Luke 24:49). They
were to stay right there in Jerusalem
and wait until sendued with power
from on high.
III. The Ascending Christ, SO
lLuke 24:50, 51) The mention Of
the promise of the Father seems to
have suggested to the disciples the
restoration of Israel, so they ask
Jesus II He is about to restore the
kingdom to Israel His answer i'm
pies that the kingdom is some time
20 be restored to Israel (cf. Is. 1926
~; 9:7; Jer. 23.5, 6; 33.15-26: Ez.
S6-23-28, 37:24-2S: Hos 81 (.
Joel 3:16-21; Am. 9:11-15). But in
that God has reserved the knowledge
of times and seasons to Himself (cf.
Matt. 24:36; Nix. 1882. How vain
and presumptuous then for any man
TO try to figure out the time of our
Lords return (Deut 1920. Jesus
turns their attention from the vain
attempt to discover times and seasons
70 their own present duty of witness
ing Tor Him. When they should re-
aeive the kingdom He does not dis
close; when they should receive pow
er He does disclose w. 81. This now
er would be theirs when the Holy
Ghost had come upon them OR. w.
they would not have power until
them How foolish then for us to try
to work for Christ until we have
sought and obtained the baptism with
the Holy Ghost. The power of the
Holy Ghost was not merely for the
purpose of making them happy, but
for the purpose of making them wit
nesses tcf. "a; 4.8-12, 81, SO; s..
w; 9:l7, 20). They were to begin
their witnessing right where they
were when the Holy Ghost was re-
celyed-<in Jerusalem They were to
go next to the Immediately surround
Ing territory; then to the nearest
neighbors. the despised Samaritans
and then on and on unto the utter
most part of the earth A true re-
ception of the Holy, Spirit by the
church means world wide missions
Immediately after speaking these
words, while they were looking. His
rect began to leave the earth. This
was His parting message to us. How
we ought to ponder it. He had lifted
His hands to bless them as He finished
the message (Luke 24:50, sly. He
went up with His hands stretched ont
IN benedfction, and He has been bless
Ing US ever since. They knew He as
cended, for they saw Him clearly
They saw Him until .the cloud. Inc
Shekinah glory, took Him out OF their
sight (cf. Elk. 1873: 34:5; Is. 1871.
Ps, l04:3). We will be received up
into that cloud some day q Thess.
4;l7). He assembled to appear in the
presence of God in our behalf, to pre-
pare place for us (Heb 1924; Jno.
l4:2). His presence there makes us
eternally secure (Ro. 1884; Heb. 4.
20 and His presence there now guar
antees our presence there hereafter
tJno. 1926; Rev 2.21l.
III. The Returning Christ, 10. ~.
They strained their eyes to get anoth-
u SAilApSS VI 11lIH ana then stood
there gazing. Two men in white
lcf Nix 1875; Luke 24:4. %: Jno.
20:12; Acts 1913, 800 stood by them.
These angels were practical. "Wby
stand We looking into heaven?D thev
ask There are times when it is right
to look up steadfastly into heaven
(ch. 7;55), but there are times when
duty calls to an earthward look The
right thing for the disciples to do lust
now was to do just what Jesus had
hidden them Tvs. 4. 12). The two in
white gave glorious promise to
cheer the disciples and make it easv
for them to leave that spot; Jesus
was coming back again. Not another
Jesus, but this Jesus" which was
taken up from them. He was to come
just as He went personally and visit
bly, (the Greek is very emphatic and
cannot be honestly reasoned away
tcf, Rev. IL; Luke 21:7; i Thess.
4:l6; Phil. 500, FL; Heb. 9:28: Jno.
1t:s; III. H:8: 2 Thsss. 1:7-lOl.
Decision ForDfds bleach Erlour