The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-12-24
ASCENSIONOF
OUR LORD
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. }. 1903
Specially Arranged for This Paper

pass. while he blessed them he was part
"a from them. and carried Into heaven"
Luke ai;si
TIME.-Thc spring OF a. y. - The
Ascension, May ~ The ten days walt
ing May H-gS
PI.ACIs.-The Ascension was from OH
vet. near Bethany. The Meeting place
Of the disciples was in the upper room In
Jerusalem.
PLACE IN HISTORY. The close o. the
earthly iife OF Jesus Christ The birth
81 the Christian religion.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The life Of Jesus on earth. including
(lD What he was; CD What he did;
CD What he taught: was an essential
condition OF all his power during the
centuries OF Christianity.
II made him a real being TO us.
while unseen on earth.
IL illustrates his teachings Tor all
ages.
II was a perpetual ideal. by which
20 test all we are and 10 and teach
II Is I'm itself n supreme power 10
influence character
Hustratlons.--I know Of no disc0r-
dant note among educators IN the tos-
tlmony that The greatest thing
teacher ever brings 10 child Is not
the subject matter. but the upl.ss
which comes from heart copsact with
great personality"
President Chaglss r. Thwlng records
the results Of "A very interesting
study OF so representative men TO
questions involving the best thing col.
lege does for a man" The entire drift
Of the testimony was that the most
these mon got from college was inspi-
ration from life contact with great
leaders.
NO nobler feeling" says Carlyle.
than admiration Cor oae higher than
himself dwells Ia the breast OF man.
II r. 10 this hour and at all hours. the
Iviisiue influence In mans life"
The promise OF the Father was the
special. overlooking gift Of the Holy
Spirit. a. we learn from verses S
and s. and The fulhllment o. the
promise IN the next chapter Tho Pa
Their had promised this gif, through
Joel t2:2S. 29l as shown In Acts 2.
Il. rs; through Isaiah fae.is: H;3l.
HasEai t2:5l. Zschariah (f.6: 1870.
i2'lei.
The promise Is called The Promise.
for Il really includes an the promises
Of the coming Of the kingdom Of God
The disciples were the instrument
tally used By the Great Leader. God
works not only directly on the hearts
OF men. but through his people on
other men. God In men Is the power
through which the kingdom Of God has
40 far come. and is to como in its
fullness. The agencies he employs
must. by their very nature. be the
Divine Spirit and the human disciple"
-kirtley. The achievements OF tho
apostles In the story OF the Acts were
the account OF what Jesus continued
TO do after his ascension. The author
Of The Fifth Gospel" a. g. Saint
Paul's gospel as REGARDED IN his epls.
ties. many OF them written before the
nrst Of our four rospels.) shows that
the apostles not only preached the facts
OF Jesus life. but the Significance OF
The life which Jesus continued 10
teach them through their own cx.
perience guided and inspired by the
Holy Spirit
!. They had their IDEAL In tho prom
Use OF the Father
2. They were imbued with power by
the Holy Spirit.
3.'rhey were changed, transformed.
BY the Holy Spirit. into new men
fiited 10 carry en- tho work OF Christ.
g. They knew tho facts about Christ.
and they experienced his presence and
his teachings, 20 that they could Do
witnesses 20 the whole world.
u vas AZ this time. doubtless. that
the great change cane over his body
described IN Cor. lE;5f,B3. For such
a change Is signined by HIS appear.
ance as John saw him fRey. f.i2Is.
The Importance OF the Ascension
l. u IS the one fttlng ending to the
earthly life OF Jesus. Coming from
the Father he returns 10 tho Father.
2 The last view OF Jesus Is not on
the cross. but going home In glory.
3. Il kept before the disciples tae
fact that he Is their ever living Saviour.
We do not worship and serve ana
trust a dead Savlous. but one who Il
alive foreveimore.
4. He can rule and guide his pecple
infinitely better there than on any
earthly place. where but few could
come into bis near presence.
5. 1t places Jesus before an men AZ
their ideal.
6. ut enables us 20 realize his d.
vinity, without losing HIS humanity"
7. II gives MS the true idea of hls
Kingdom rs spiritual Kingdom OF
righteousness
s. The doctrine OF the ascension
with It's hope of future glory. with ,ts
TRANSPORTED son OF man (not SON Of
Jew or Greek. but OF mani on the
throne, adds new dignity TO life" for
the lowiiest shall be changed into ths
likeness Of his glori1ed body.
The power OF faith In a snbn,ms
leader, The church without him would
be an army without general. the evo.
tuition OF nature without a God. Never
has been such leader as the ms.
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