THE PARTING INSTRUCTION OF JESUS.
By G.
WHEN any master, or leader, or employer, or head of a household, goes away for a time, his last instruction to those who are left to look after his affairs is deemed very important. His words are usually words of anxiety and solicitude for the success of his representatives in the conduct of his business. The directions or commands on such occasions are always the result of careful thought, after a minute consideration of even the minor details, as well as of the expected ultimate result. If the charge be of unusual magnitude and importance, there will be earnest consultation; and the last words of the chief will be carefully noted and remembered. Moreover, if the one or more representatives be faithful to the trust, they will be unusually watchful of the interest at stake because of the absence of the head of affairs. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He held several interviews with His disciples, in order that they might not only understand the reasons for His going away, but also the nature of their duties in His absence. His last instruction was both a promise and a charge—a promise of power commensurate with their responsibilities, and plain directions as to the use they should make of that power. This instruction was: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. The next verse says, “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” And we learn from Luke 24:50, 51 that He was parted from them while in the act of bestowing His blessing upon them. The leading thought, however, in the parting instruction of the Lord is that His disciples are to be witnesses for Him in all the earth, and that power direct from on high is essential to such witnessing. Notwithstanding all the experience and previous instruction of the twelve, under His personal supervision, they were not yet qualified for efficient witnessing in all the world. They still lacked the power, and He had told them to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until endued with power from on high. They were endued with this power on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them; and there and then they began their powerful witnessing. Now the sole duty of the believer while in the present life is to witness for Christ. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rom. 10:9, 10. God brought Israel out of Egypt that they might be witnesses unto Him before all the world. And His mighty power that accompanied them was manifested before all Egypt, and before all the nations with which they came in contact. The tabernacle which Moses built in the wilderness, according to the pattern which God showed Him in the mount, was the “tabernacle of witness;” for all the services of the tabernacle were services of witnessing for Christ. As long as the Israelites were obedient, the power of God was with them to do efficient, faithful witnessing. David shows the logical results of true conversion in consequent witnessing, when he says: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Ps. 40:1-3. John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15), “and the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit” (verse 80). Of him we have this further testimony: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” John 1:6-8. On one occasion, as John saw Jesus approaching, he said to the multitude, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Verse 29. “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.” Verse 32. Again he says, “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” Verse 34. The burden of John’s witnessing was that the people might “repent” of their sins, and thus “prepare” the way of the Lord, that He might be properly received. Jesus Christ came into the world as a witness. He was the “faithful Witness” (Rev. 1:5), and “a faithful witness will not lie” (Prov. 14:5), “a true witness delivereth souls” (verse 25). “Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” Isa. 55:4. He also was “full of the Holy Ghost;” was “led by the Spirit” (Luke 4:1), and was endued with “the power of the Spirit” (verse 14). Moreover, He was obedient to the commandments of God. See Matt. 5:17, 18; John 15:10. Herein lies another essential to true witnessing. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 7:21. We sometimes hear one say, “I am doing the best I can,” or, “I am serving the Lord in my poor, weak way.” Such service is not acceptable to God. He wants His people to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Spiritual weakness is unbelief. “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7. Says Paul, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. Faith, obedience, and the power of the Spirit (and these three are one) are necessary to a “faithful witness” and a “good confession.” Let us keep in mind the parting instruction of our Master, and strive to be faithful witnesses till His return. G.