The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-23

iSAs sToR. IlS6EIL1 the text, when
He ascended up on
high He led multitude of captives"
EpheSans iv. S-l0).
In this week occurs the anniversary
of~Jesus' ascension. In one sense OF
the word our Lord ascended (that is,
from human nature and the tomb, to
the divine nature and Immortality at
the time OF His resurrection from the
dead. He tnrried, however, for forty
days, with the Apostles for their es-
tablishment and @nstruction-H on
the spirit plane, invisible to them. ex-
cept when he manifested Himself by
appearing miraculously in various
forms to convince them that He was
no longer deceased, and also that He
was no longer confined to human con-
ditions-that His resurrection had
made Him again spirit being on the
higher plane. where He was before
He took human nature for the suffer
ing of death. for the redemption of
humanity.
Not alone by His words, but also by
His conduct. our Lord, taught His fol-
lowers. They had not as yet been be-
gotten of the Holy Spirit, and hence
could not understand or appreciate
spiritual things. They could there
fore receive instruction only along nat
urnl lines. Jesus was raised from the
dead spirit being far above angels,
principalities and powers. Had He
then gone directly to the Father with
out manifesting Himself TO His disci-
pies, they would never have been able
to understand the truth of the matter.
Hence their lessons were given them
largely in pantOmime. corroborated by
the Masters words. explaining that 1t
was necessary that Messiah should
die in order that He might redeem the
world. and that 1t was also necessary
that He ascend up on high and re-
enter upon the spiritual plane of ex-
istence, which He had before He came
into the world-in order that from
that higher plane of being He might
be the more capable of filing the
great Office of Prophet, Priest, Medi-
ator and King of the world.
"FIesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the
Kingdom of God"
Not only, therefore. did Jesus mani
fest Himself during the forty days,
some seven times, for a few moments
each time, in various forms. but final
ly, at the conclusion of the forty days,
He ascended in full view of His dis
ciples. This was one way of telling
them OF His ascension, that He had
gone to the Father, that they need not
expect to see Him again as formerly.
We are not, however. to suppose for
moment that Jesus ascended fleshly
or human being; we remember. on the
contrary. that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the Kingdom of Cod" and that
HE was put to death in the flesh but
quickened i'll the spirit" and that
thenceforth, as the Apostle declares,
''The Lord is that Spirit" QI Corin-
thians iii. IN.
Seen by Saul of Tarsus. ;,
The Apostles were to bear witness
to the resurrection of Jesus; but Judas
having lost his place, and it having
been given to st. Paul, 1t was proper
that the latter. as well as the rest of
the Apostles, should be able to bear
witness to Jesus resurrection. Re-
counting those who had seen the Lord
after His resurrection, in some Of the
various manifestations, St Paul says,
.Last of all He was seen of me also,
as one born before the time"
Jesus appeared to St Paul in the
| glorious brightness of His Spirit Be
ing. shining above the brightness of
| the sun ut MONDAY" The sight caused
| injury to the eyes of the beholder.
Such manifestation would have been
| inappropriate and unsatisfactory had
| the Redeemer so appeared to the elev-
ell during the forty days. How could
they have identified the glorious Per
| sonage, who shone above the bright
hess OF the sun at MONDAY, as the lord
Jesus. whom they. had known for
years. How could they have been en-
abled to fully identify Him, in His
many different appearances, with His
former self--their Friend, their Teach
err But to Saul of Tarsus, the reveal
lHB III HtAy iSut, upo'S thS hooiH"y
glare. was very appropriate. 1t con
WINGED him, in a manner that no human
appearance In the flesh could have
equalled. that Jesus was no longer a
man and that He was no impostor, st.
| Paul's conversion was instantaneous.
"Who art thou Lord" he asked. II
am Jesus Whom thou persecutest''-
| still represented In My followers, of
whom st. Stephen was one, whom you
murdered. and others of whom you
have been hailing to prison.
It,should not cause us to marvel that
Jesus ascended as He declared, up
where He was before" John vi, G2) 1t
should not surprise us that the Heav-
enly Father gave Him back all the
! glory and honor which He had before