Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-12-31
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 3.

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 8.
! Subject: The Ascension of Our Lord,
Acts 1:1.14-Golden Text, Luke
24:51-COmmit Verses 8, g.
Exposition of the Lesson.
TIME.-Thursday, May 18, A. D.
80. PLACE.-Jerusalem and Olivet.
| EXPOSITION. !. The Risen
Christ, 1.5. ''The former treatise"
| Is the gospel of Luke (Luke 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 4cf. Matt. 1919, 20;
Nix. 16:15-19; Luke 24:45-49; ch.
10:4O-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
l. a.. 4,
| ! Thess. 1:5). Jesus was taken up
into heaven" (Luke 24:51; CT. l Pc
ter 3:22). The all-sufficient proof
| that Jesus rose was that He was seen
through forty days after His suffer-
lngs and death. He showed Himself
alive by many proofs. Forty days"
Is the period of thorough testing
(Deut. 90, IS; / X. 1873; Matt.
4:2). During the forty days there
was one subject Of conversation, "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, 1.-The promise of the Faith
er," the baptism with the Holy Spirit
| Tvs. 4, 5; CT. Luke 24:49). They
were to stay right there in Jerusalem
and wait until "endued with power
from on high"
III. The Ascending Christ, 60
! Nuke 24:5O, 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-
| 27; 81; Jer. 1876, 6; 3:15-26; Ez
| 36-23-2S; 37:24-2S; Hos. ga, 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. 1882. 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-
ceive the kingdom He does not dis
close: when they should receive pow
er He does disclose ". 81. This pow
er would be theirs when the Holy
| Ghost had come upon them Or. W.
| They would not have power until
then. 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" (cf. ga; 4:S-12. 81. 33; s:
32; 9:17, 20). They were to begin
their witnessing right where they
were when the Holy Ghost was re-
| ceived--in Jerusalem. They were to
| 60 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 worldwide missions.
| Immediately after speaking these
words, while they were looking, His
feet 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, 51). He
| went up with His hands stretched out
in benediction, 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, the
| Shekinah glory, took Him out of their
sight (cf. Elk. 1879; 34:5; Is. 1871;
| Ps. 104:3). We will be received up
into that cloud some day Il Thess
| AID. He ascended to appear in the
| presence Of God in our behalf, to pre-
| pare a place for US (Heb. 9:24; Jno.
| 14:2). His presence there makes us
eternally secure (Ro. S:34; Heb. q:
| 25) and His presence there now guar.
| antees our presence there hereafter
| (Jno. 1926; Rev. 2:2D.
III. The Returning Christ, 10, II.
They strained their eyes to get anoth'
| er glimpse of Him and then stood
there gazing. Two men in white
| (cf. Nix. 1915; Luke 24;4. 2S; Jno,
| 20:12; Acts 1913, 30) stood by them
These angels were practical. why
stand we looking into heaven?" they
ask There are times when it is right
| to look up steadfastly into heaven
! (ch. 1850, but there are times wher
| duty calls to an earthward look. The
right thing for the disciples to do just
| now was to do just what Jesus had
| bidden them Tvs. 4, 12). The two ir
white gave a glorious promise to
cheer the disciples and make 1t easy
| for them to leave that spot; Jesus
was coming back again. Not another
| Jesus, but this Jesus" which wa,
taken up from them. He was to coms
Just as He went, personally and visi'
bly, (the Greek is very emphatic ant
cannot be honestly reasoned away
(cf. Rev. IL; Luke 21:7; l Thess
4:16; Phil. 1920, 21; Heb. 9:2S; Jno
40 IL