THE ASCENSION by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 58.

THE ASCENSION.

By Editor

Lesson Scripture, Luke 24:36-53.

AND as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do reasonings arise in your heart?
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.
And he took it, and did eat before them.
And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the Scriptures;
And he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Ye are witnesses of these things.
And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.
And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.
And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
And were continually in the temple, blessing God.

WE come now to the last lesson of the year, and to the close of the book of Luke. There is only one thing to say, and that is, Read, read; review, review. Pursue the same plan in all your study of the Bible. Do not let it degenerate into a mere intellectual exercise; this the study of the Bible should never be, and yet it will be found that there is nothing so healthful and strengthening to the intellect as the proper study of the Bible. The greatest benefits from this study of Luke are yet to come. They will come in the shape of a greater facility in acquiring a knowledge of any other portion of Scripture, but especially in the light and instruction that will dawn upon your minds as you think upon the things which you have outlined during the past study. You will find that the more thoroughly you have studied the lessons, the more you are now able to learn from the same scripture that you have been studying. Many precious truths have doubtless been impressed upon your minds as you have been studying; but the one thing that is the most valuable of all, if you have learned it, is the knowledge of the fact that the light and truth come from the very words of the Scripture. If you have learned to inquire of the Scriptures themselves, and to let them speak to you, and teach you, you have learned the secret of the knowledge of God.

Relate the events of the day of the resurrection of Christ.
As the two disciples were telling their story to the eleven, what took place?
What did Jesus say to them?
What was their condition, notwithstanding his salutation?
What did Jesus say to them?
How did he seek to assure them that it was really he?
When their joy and wonder still prevented them from fully believing, what did he ask for?
What did he then proceed to do?
What did he then say to them?
What did he do for them?
What did he show them was necessary?
What must be preached in his name?
How extensively must these things be preached?
What did he then promise them?
For what were they to wait?
What were they then to do? Verse 48; Acts 1:8.
To what place did he afterward lead them out?
What did he there do to them?
What took place while he was blessing them?
With what feelings did they return to Jerusalem?

NOTE.

"And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." This may seem strange when we remember how sorrowful they were when they heard of his going away, until we read the record in the first chapter of Acts: "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." This was the cause of their joy as they returned to Jerusalem. The same promise is made to every one of us, and should cause the same joy in our hearts. It will surely do so if, like them, we have walked and talked with Jesus, and have had our hearts burn within us at his gracious words. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8, 9. And so, as we read his words, "Surely I come quickly," which are so much nearer fulfillment now than when first spoken, we shall respond, with the disciple whom Jesus loved, and who loved him, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."