The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-16
sgETeBROKEYN =
NlEABERNACLEC
HAr-AsNslBEE- STUDY oN~
"Where He Was Before.

Luke 2f.5O-5S, Acts 11-n-Dec. 20. +
what and If We shall see the SON of
Man ascend up where He was befores''-
John 6:62.
The 40 days which followed our Lord 5
resurrection were sufficient for the di-
vine purpose. The disciples had lost their
first bewilderment created by the cruci-
fixtion of the One whom they had sup
posed was about to take the throne TO rule
Israel and the world. We can see the
wisdom of the divine method of COM
municating the facts to the Disciples.
They were not alarmed. as they would
have been If Jesus had appeared to them
in light above the brightness of the
sun, as He afterward appeared to Saul
of Tarsus. Gradually they learned that
their Lord was no longer dead. but
alive. and that He was no longer a
human being, but now a spirit being, and.
like the angels, could go and come as
the wind, appearing and disappearing
at pleasure.
1t was slow lesson. After the three
appearances of the first day, they looked
Tor Him each day until the following
Nah0alAs NItll Tue lOul III dPpcditthNti
or manifestation, was made. This delay
only whetted their appetite. their cav
ing for knowledge respecting HIM.
Meantime they could. and did, think over
all the things which Jesus had said Ito
them during his earthly ministry. They
perceived wherein they had mistaken a
heavenly klnguom for an eartniy one
or at least mstook the time OF the estab-
nshment of MessIahs Kingdom.
/ The lesson given on the way to En-
maus must have been very Impressive.
1t dealt with the promotes which related
10 Jesus, and explained to them how
these prohecles were already In tuli-
ment-some of them ALREADY fulfilled and
some OF them srlu future. Well did they
remark that their hearts burned witnm
them when He made these explanations.
Our lesson today relates especially to
the ascension OF Jesus. This took place
near Jerusalem-at Bethany. Apparently
tie met with His followers in the Holy
city. He led them out to Bethany, ex-
pialning the things that would be to .heIr
advantage to know-the things they
wound need to be thoroughly convinced
of before His departure, and before they
would have suflclent faith to be pre-
pared for the blessings lie had yet to
send.
st. Luke, who also wrote the Book of
Acts, tells us that the essence of Jesus
teaching during the 40 days related 10
the Kingdom of God. Still they under
stood not; 1t was not possible for them to
fully understand until they would receive
the begettlng of the Holy Spirit. 1t was
toward that point. therefore. that Jesus
directed their attention, saying that they
should not depart from Jerusalem nor
engage in any work of preaching, but
wait for the promise of the Father, OF
which He had told them. He explained
that john the Baptist had indeed used
water baptism, but that all His followers
should receive a superior baptism and
qualification-the baptism of the Holy
Spirit, at Pentecost.
On this last occasion of our Lord
manifestation the disciples asked the very
significant question, Lord. wilt Thou al
this time restore the Kingdom to Israeli
The kingdom had been taken from 1srae
away back in the days of Zedekiah, kine
of Judah. At that time God had saic
that He would overturn the kingdom
until He comes whose right it is. ant
l will give II Him. Ezekiel 81 :25-27