DR 31
December 31
Luke 24:50 to end. The Ascension.
The Lord Jesus had often walked with his disciples to Bethany. This was his last walk to that endeared spot. A last walk with a beloved friend is usually mournful; but though the disciples knew they were soon going to be separated from their Lord, they were not unhappy. Once when they had descended into the valley of Kedron, and crossed the narrow stream, they were much cast down. Then it was Jesus had said to them, "Let not your heart be troubled." On that occasion he stopped at the garden of Gethsemane to pray and suffer there; but now he passed beyond that sorrowful spot, and followed the path on the side of Mount Olivet which leads to the village of Bethany.
Have you ever passed by a place where you once endured great trials, and have you been able to say, as you looked at the spot, "God has been very gracious unto me; I was troubled, and he helped me; I sought him, and he delivered me from all my fears?" What gratitude the soul feels when it remembers the former anguish, and contrasts that anguish with the present joy! But who has ever suffered such pangs as Jesus endured in the garden of Gethsemane, while bearing the burden of our sins!
When he walked towards Bethany for the last time all his troubles were over. The Psalms record his thanksgivings to his Father—"Sing unto the Lord, O you saints of his; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness; for his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Ps. 30:4, 5.) Well may he call upon his saints to rejoice with him. All he suffered was for them. All he has obtained is for them. He needed nothing for himself—he had all things from everlasting—but he knew that we had lost all, and that he alone could recover all for us.
His last act on earth was an act of love to his people. "He lifted up his hands, and blessed them." "While he blessed them he was parted from them." It was a cloud that received him and carried him up to heaven. The apostles beheld him as he ascended, and continued to watch until they could see him no more. Two angels clothed in white apparel remained below to comfort them. And how did they comfort? By this promise—"This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven." The words of prophets and apostles agree with those of the angel. An apostle of the New Testament has declared, "Behold, he comes with clouds." (Rev. 1:7.) A prophet of the Old has said, "His feet shall stand in that day upon Mount Olives." (Zech. 14:4.)
How did the apostles feel now they had lost their Lord? We do not hear one word about their sorrow—we do not read of their shedding one tear; but we are told that after worshiping their ascended Savior, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Though still in the midst of their enemies, they rejoiced —though deprived of the personal presence of their Lord, they rejoiced —though they knew that in the world they should have much tribulation, they rejoiced. And why? Because they believed the promises. They knew that Jesus was gone to the Father to make intercession for them, and that he would return again to make them blessed forever.
The apostle Peter in his epistle speaks in a triumphant manner of his Lord's exaltation—"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him." (1 Pet. 3:22.) And the apostle John, in the last page of the Bible, and almost the last verse, has recorded this prayer, "Even so, come Lord Jesus." Do we partake in the joy of these holy apostles? Jesus loves all who love him, whether they be the greatest of his apostles or the weakest of his lambs. "He ever lives to make intercession (not for apostles only, but) for all who come unto God by him." He will come again, not to bless apostles only, but all who have believed in him through their word, and He will say to them all, "Come, you blessed of my Father."
We have now traced the steps of the Son of God from his throne of glory into this dark world, and back again to the same bright throne. We, who have sat together day after day reading and hearing this affecting history, shall one day meet together before his dreadful tribunal. It is probable that circumstances will, sooner or later, part us in this life; we may move to other places, or we may be removed by death; but we shall meet again. It will then be known whether we truly loved this blessed Savior—whether we were washed in his blood, and whether we were sanctified by his Spirit. It will then be decided whether we shall live with him forever, or be forever banished from his presence. "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near." (Isa. 45:6.)