Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-02

deavored many times to explain il John,
Nvi.i:36t Ana this shows that they were
not prepared to so forth and proclaim that
kingdom and emphasize tie necessity OF
the promised baptism. Jesus was very
patient with His dull pupils, knowing that
shortly, when new fore" entered thei,
lives. they would abGndun the lau.-
cherished popular notion. lie does NOT.
however. inform them that there woufi
be no such kingdom. Ia; simply tells them
that they were iaqairinE into matters
thai dill uOt concern them
WITH ESSES-JcSus Immediately -
called the apostles to- thor true un!sSien:
Ne snail be witns sses unto mo. no, u".-
uclanS Or statesmen Negso -. 1t is ire
part OF witness I" tell The truth and by
SO doing to support 4 cause Tarv WHO
have been with tho Master Inust DE- en-
p'oycd after lis departure m tasiifIing
FOR HIM That : the reason fhcy pcre
chosen NJ the first. the reason for the
display tJohn. vii.:3 of lis mower and
wisdom and holiness in their presence
tina they might know IIim mud make Him
known 10 others tJona. i:1-3l Witnesses
whcre? In Jerusalem, the place OF the
crucifiNion: in Judca where He VAS born:
in Samaria. where He Iahorad n the
utterm parts of the earth whereveI,
man may he found " hat q wonderful
requirement. | Jesus was a mere man He
was supreme egOtiSt To cal men 10 Him
and TO train them and send them out 70
speak of Him. But il. as we believe He
was the Son of God, then is He the need
of every heart, and he hears good tidines
who witnesses for Him. Yes. but that
would be no ordinary task. requiring
extraordinary ability. Hence the remark
"Ye shall receive power thus 10 bear W.
ness. after The Holy Ghost IL come upon
You. Supernatural power for heavenly
service, Here is a corrective of ambition
and woridliness.
ASCENT.-The end has come Tne
last important word OF instruction has
fallen from the lips Of Jesus on the ears
of His followers. His personal earthly
min stry is finished. IT is not best for
Him 10 tarry longer (John, Xvi:11. His
physical presence might obstruct the
work and hinder the words The apostles
must now learn what this baptism ;s
and what the Witnessing is and these
must be learned in that order Then
will come the new era SO long DELAYED
Dull minds will he suircharged with fiery
zeal and cold hearts will be thrilled with
undying love.
The little company had reached the
brow of Olivet when Jesus finished His
speech Verse o.. slowly He began 10
rise above the earth. moving upward to-
ward the heaven. His hands were reached
out in blessing luke, XXiv 81 as He dis
appeared from sight. Now let the scien-
lists question and the skeptics quibbl>
They VIII never know how that h dy as
cended. or what became OF il. And sway
need any one know? We may be content
with the fact atteSted by eleven coinpe-
Al
remember that two othsrs, Enoch Oieb
xi:5D and Elijah III Kings ii:lD. making
one in each dispensation. passed to the
realm OF the blessed without seeing
death.
DESCENT-tVerses l0-lD. Jesus
went away. according To His own word
tJohn XX:1D. but He had left the prom
Use OK constant spiritual presence Matt,
SxNl:2o), and of return to receive his
own into mansions which He would pre-
pare tJohn. Niv:3o. He had also declared
that the tribes of earth should see the
Son Of Man coming in the clouds Matt,
kXlN:1o). which words have been Various,y
Interpreted In lesson there il a
further reference To this matter. in some
respects more explicit. While the apo
ties were saZ nS into the heav rs two
angels in the form OF men stood by them
They eXpostulatad with the company as
Il their upturned look indicated lack II
faith. or knowledge or bewilderment To
comfort them the celestial visitors de-
clared that Jesus would so come again
The plain meaning of this is thar some
day His form should he seen descending
through the parted clouds. This seems
TO accord with Paurs View Il Thess
l:10). who even describes the mode of de
scent q Ihess., iv:lG,. john, also IN
Patmos. affirms the same. (Rev.. ia. At
least one of the prophets forcsaw the
event dan. 7ii:i3f.
WAITING.-AlI this-thc closing in
terNleW, tie Masters instruction and dis
greatly strengthened Tie apostles Pre-
Niously they were held together by tie
influence OF wonderful personality Now
they began To cooperate under the pow
er of common faith. hope and purpose.
tNerSeS 12-li) Returning to the city and
ret ntering the room where they had be
fore assembled. they engaged in prayer.
They were all present. Peter. James.
John Andrew. Philip. Thomas Barthol-
,omew. Matthew. James. the son of Al
nj a, nj. ba l,l-stf fia.
of James. The order of the names is not
the same as in the gospels. Matt. XIII
They did not constitute AN exclusive com
pany. Il hierarchy refusing contact with
the masses. Women Were present. aInous
them Mary. the mother OF Jesus Besides.
there We're humble Disciples whose u8-lcs
are now lost, the whole number be ~
10 tverse I'D The better part of the in
FAINT church Il Cor. Xy:i). the fruit II oar
Lords ministry. Plain people they We're.
Galileans (Acts. ii:1D. having little or
nothing to commend them to the mobiles
OF earth Il Cor. i:2D. but obeaicnt -
their absent Lord, waiting fer His
promise.
CONCLrSION.-Here is ChriStS
method OF advancing His cause. Men
without education wealth or prestige
must go out To tell Of Him-men OF three
qualifications they were Old Testament
students they had known Him; they
We're TO be endoWr from above. Their
knowledge rendered them susceptible 10
spiritual influences. They must beSln IA
the city wher4 lie was condemned, ana
widen the fed of their operation To the
uttermost parts Of the earth. The mes
sage must rest upon its merit and win lis
own way. If the cause iccefdS bN Ht'tl d
method. then men may know tllat 20" Is
in il Czech iV:Gb 50 much Tor u" apps
toiic period There Is no indication mere
that in later times other methods mao hr
adopted. certainly nothing is SAID against
other methods Whatever agencies may
ha emuloyed the one essential through
out all the centuries IS a man VII"
knows Christ. on whom has come Inc
power Of the Holy Ghost. Without h,a''
failure, With that means may be multi
nIicG but suce. - is assured only because
God blesses the means. Il Cor, i:f-')