The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-12-31
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INTERNATIONAL DEssoN COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 8.
Subject: The Ascension Of Our Lord,
Acts 1.f-1f-Goiden Text, Luke
24:51-Commit Verses 8, o.
Exposition of the Lesson,


24:5f-Commit Verses 8, o.,
Exposition of the Lesson.
TIME.--Thursday, May IS, A. d.
30. PLACE.--Jerusalem and Olivet
EXPOSITION. = l. The Risen
Christ, 1-5. ''The former treatise"
Is the gospel of Luke duke 1.1-4).
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 (af.
ter His ascension) Just before His
ascension He had given the disciples
commandments (cf. Matt. 28:19, 20;
NIX. 16:15-19; Luke 24:45-49; ch.
10: :40-42). 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. 1 Cor. ga;
] Thess. 1:5). Jesus was taken up
into heaven" (Luke 24:51; Of. l Pc
ter 3:22). The all-sutficient 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. $50, IS; X 1873; Matt
4:2). During the forty days there
was one subject of conversation, 1.-The
things concerning the kingdom of
God" AS the days of communion
with the risen Christ drew to a 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
err" the baptism with the Holy Spirit
Tvs. a, 5; CT. Luke 24:49). They
were to stay right there in Jerusalem
and walt until "endued with power
| from on high"
ii. The Ascending Christ, 60
(Luke 24:50, SD. The mention of
''the promise of the Father" seems to
! have suggested to the disciples the
restoration of Israel, so they ask
! Jesus if He is about to restore the
! kingdom to Israel. His answer i'm
| plies that the kingdom is some time
| to be restored to Israel (cf. Is. 1:25-
81; 9:7; Jer 1856, 6; 33:15-26; Ez.
S6-23-28; 37:24-2S; Hos 3:4, 5;
Joel 3:16-21; Am. 9:11-15). But in
the most emphatic way He tells them
that God has reserved the knowledge
OF times and seasons to Himself (cf.
Matt. 24:36; Nix. 1892. How vain
and presumptuous then for any man
to try to figure out the time of our
Lords return (Deut. 29:29). Jesus
turns their attention from the vain
attempt to discover times and seasons
to their own present duty of witness
Ing for Him. When they should re-
oeive the kingdom He does not dis
close; when they should receive pow.
er He does disclose ". 81. This pow.
or would be theirs when the Holy
Ghost had come upon them (R. VI
They would not have power unit
then. How foolish then for us to tr,
to work for Christ until we hav,
sought and obtained the baptism will
the Holy Ghost The power OF tn,
Hsly Ghost was not merely for tn,
purpose of making them happy, bu
for the purpose of making them wit
nesses" (cf. ga; 4:8-12, 81, 33; 5
80; 9:17, 20). They were to begil
their witnessing right where the!
were when the Holy Ghost was re
ceived-in Jerusalem. They were f
go next to the Immediately surround
ing territory; then to the neares
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 tn
church means worldwide mission,
Immediately after speaking thes
words, while they were looking, HI
feet began to leave the earth. Thi
was His parting message to us. Ho'
we ought to ponder it. He had lifte
His hands to bless them as He finishe
!, the message (Luke 24:50, 51). H
went up with His hands stretched oil
, in benediction, and He has been bles
ing us ever since. They knew He a
cended, for they saw Him clearl
: They saw Him until the cloud, I'll
Shekinah glory, took Him out of the
sight (cf. Elk. 1873; 34:5; Is. 1871
h Ps. 104:3). We will be received L
4 into that cloud some day i Thes
I AID. He ascended to appear in Il
: presence of God in our behalf, to Or
a pare place for US (Heb. o IA; in
i 14:2). His presence there makes
h eternally secure GRO. 8;S4; Heb.
4 25) and His presence there now qua
q ! antees our presence there hereaft
( (Jno. 12:26; Rev 2:21).
n III. The Returning Christ, 10, /
s They strained their eyes to get anot
1
s. there gazing. Two men in whi
5, (cf. NIX. 1873; Luke 24:4, 23; il
S 2O:12; Acts 1913, 800 stood by the
These angels were practical. "W
stand ye looking into heaven" th
ask. There are times when it is rie
TO look up steadfastly into heay
J, (eh. 7:55) but there lre times VIII
) duty calls to an earthward look. 7
% right thing for the disciples to do il
), now was to do just what Jesus b
y bidden them Tvs. 4, 12). The two
= white gave a glorious promise
cheer the disciples and make it ei
for them to leave that spot JeI
was coming back again. Not anotl
- Jesus, but this Jesus" which '
= taken up from them. He was to co
I, Just as He went, personally and v
- bly, (the Greek is very emphatic (
p cannot be honestly reasoned awI
" (cf. Rev. III; Luke 21;T; 1 TIL
4:16; Phil. $40. 81; Heb 9;2S;
1SI3: 2 IL 4:8: 2 Thsss. 1;7-l