Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-02
Sunday School Lesson for january Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD. Acts. i'll A.

PRENIEW-W shall devote 4 whole
year To the apostles, their work and their
writings. The h Stor:cal port on OF our
studies will be in the book commonly
termed the Acts. The book was written
by Luke as the entire church has bes
leved. and as the opening verse shows
the former treatise" here mentioned
being the gospel by the same author, ad-
dressed. as this is, 10 TheophiluS. duke
1.3D Lake was q physician Col. W:ia.
a beloved companion of Paul. sharing MS
fortunes and aiding the work Of that en-
mem apostle in ms missionary tours.
mentioned by him as his only associate
in Rome C.. Tim. iv:1l) Few men have
rendered more valuable service 10 the
church than did Luke. Fully imbued
with the spirit Of labor in 1.-THE western
field. he first sketched the life of our
Lord for tho benefit OF Gentle converts.
and then recorded the principal events
connected with the progress of Chrls-
tIanity from Jerusalem 10 the imp -rlai
city. covering a period of nearly seventy
years. Today we begin the study OF his
second book, selecting for topic The
Holy Spirit Promised as more approprl-
at" than that OF the international com
mittee.
APPEARANCE-In opening our les
son (Acts L. verses = and 81 the TACT is
made conspicuous that Jesus showed him.
self alive after His passion. and many In
fallible proofs of His resurrection were
givet. Mark, Xvi:14. and that He was
seen for the long period Of forty days
and that during the time He had spoken
concerning the kingdom of God. This
matter was related in the gospel duke
NXiy). but it is introduced here funda-
mental to the narrative following. ne
history about to he written was con-
tim ton, of Iat hafp
sus in His lifetime only began verse -
ito do and teach" and the apostles sup
plemented Him. This view casts a charm
about the book. 1t puts Jesus in imme-
date and vital connection with the whole
of Christianity. He is not now a dead
teacher whose words, example and influ-
ence survive Him. but living person
fRev., IFS still acting. He came out OF
the grave. not merely to triumph over 1t
and to cast light into il, hut TO direct His
unfinished work by human agencies. 1t
was highly proper to begin this book with
this truth which inspired the apost es and
explained their marvellous history.
lNSTRICTION.-Ou lesson next
shows oversees 40 what Jesus did dur
ing the forty days of post-resurrection
association with His apostles. There is no
record of miracles wrought upon the peo-
pie. He entered upon the good work Of
teaching, which had been His chief occu-
patton Matt, XXvi:55 one OF the
themes presented by Him is here men
toned. The company was assembled
probably i'll the usual place of meeting
duke. xxii:l2). Evidently there had
been conversation concerning the
great commission Matt. XXViii:l9) when
He commanded them not to leave Jerusa-
lem until the Fathers promise which he
had mentioned luke, XXiv:43) was full
filed. To make Himself understood he
called attention to Johns baptism, the
sign of repentance, assuring them of
another ba ptiSm that of the Holy Spirit
as an enduement for service. These men.
being of Jewish origin, We're not ignorant
Of these things Joel, iii:1S). They were
to be qualified as the prophets had been
Ezekiel ill., 81 but their mission was
vastly more important. They were to be
the agents of Jesus Christ. acting under
the power of the spirit, shut up to this
one business.
kINGDOM.-Ir connection with this
teaching of Jesus there very
singular occurrence. 1t may have been
before He had spoken as above. but prob
ably after. that the apostles asked Him,
wilt Thou at this time restore the king
dom to Israeli oversees u. ~ They had
In mind the temporal reign which the
Jews expected under Messiah usaiah,
26l and which had engaged their
thoughts on several occasions provoking
some heated discussions Luke, xiv :2l.)
The question indicates that they were yet
ignorant concerning the true nature of the
kingdom of Christ. although He had en-