He could not die a second time; how could he disappear from among men more eppro- 11riately thnn in the manner he himself hod foretold? II. AN EVIDENT PROOF OF THE DIVINITY OF BIS PERSON AND llt[SSION. And this in two ways. 1. Jesus had expressly and repeatedly foretold that ho should aseond into heaven; the fact of his doing so proved his Divine foreknowledge. 2. At the snmo time, his ascension distinguished him from all others. He wns not even, like Elijah, taken up; he ascended in the oxerciso of his own native power. III. A ~"'E0ESSABY CO}..'DITIOll OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT. He himself had said, "If I go not awny, the Comforter will not come." His work was to bo completed in the bestowal of spirihrnl influence for the enlightenment and conversion of mankind. It was when he ascended on high that ho led captivity captive, and received gifts for men. fV. A PREPARATION FOR THE ESPECIALLY CHRISTIAN LIFE OF FAITH AND SPIRI- 'l'UALITY. Through the Ascension Christ's friends and followers realize their union with an unseen Saviour. The invisible sphere, which apart from this seems so remote, is thus brought near. Christians, risen with Christ, set their aITections upon things above. V. A POTh"T OF DEPARTURE FOR THE Crruncn's LABOURS. No one can read the Dook of the Acts of the Apostles without feeling that the ascension of Christ, recorded in the first chapter, is the key to the whole of the narrative. The Lord went into heave.:i, but left his servants upon earth, to carry out his instructions, and to advance his cause and kingdom. The trust came home to their hearts, and animated their ministry. VI. 'l'rrE GROUND OF A BLESSED HOPE. Jesus departed with bis hands outstretched in the attitude of blessing. Dlessing his people, he ascended; blessing them, he lives and reigns above; and blessing them, he will return. It is his own assurance, "I will come again ; " it is the assurance of his angels, " He shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him go into heaven." .APPLICATION. If, as our Lard's language intimates, his ascension must needs awaken surprise, still more should it enkindle gratitude, arouse to consecration, and inspire hope.-'l'.
Ver. 63.-Theflesh and the Spirit. Our Lord here teaches a great lesson which he several times repeated in the course of his ministry, and which is most emphatically inculcated by the Apostle Paul, especially in his Epistles to the Corinthians. There are two different principles of religion-one carnal, i.e. earthly and human ; the other spiritual, i.e. heavenly and Di vine; and of these the second is the true and satisfactory principle. "The flesh profiteth nothing "-the religion which is external and ceremonial, which rules itself by the letter, is vain; "the Spirit quickeneth "-the religion which begins with the inner llll.tnre, and lays all stress upon the laws and the life of the soul, is Divine, acceptable, and enduring. l. Tirn SUPERIORITY OF THE 8P1£1T TO THE FLESH IS APPARENT IN THE VITAL QUESTION AS TO THE NATURE OF THE UNION OF THE CHRISTIAN WITH CHRIST. The religion of the flesh teaches that, if a man could only eat the Lord's body and drink his blood, he must be saved. The religion of the Spirit tells us that physical contact in itself is worthless; and that the matter of all importance is the spiritual connection between the believer and the Saviour. II. SPIRITUAL WORSHIP IS BETTER THAN HEBE BODILY OBSERVANCES. There is a very powerful tendency in human nature to lower religion into a system of form and ceremony. Many under the Mosaic economy were carried away by this tendency, whilst the more spiritual Jews saw clearly into the true nature of acceptable worship. On this point our Lord',; language is most explicit, especially in his conversation with the woman of Samaria. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." fil A SPlfilTUAL CONCEPTIOlll' OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS SUPEBIOB TO ONE THAT IS CABNAL. It is often regarded as something of the nature of a human organization ; yet our Lord's parables should convince the student that there is a kingdom altogether different from any human institution, whether political or ecclesiastical. Many are the mischiefs, as Church history abundantly teaches us, which have flowed from the foun- tain error of regarding the Divine kingdom according to "the flesh." on. v1. 1-71.] 'fHE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 289
IV, THE BAORAMENTB THEMSELVES ARE ONLY RIOHTLY DEEMED OF WHEN THEY ABE VIEWED IN THE LIGllT OF THE SPIRIT. 'fh~ outward observances, the visible signs, are valuable and necessary. But they are matenal expressions of spiritual truth and reality• they are earthly means to spiritual ends. ' V, CIIRIBTIAN 0DEDIENOE 18 TIIAT WHICH IS RENDERED, NOT SIMPLY BY THE BODil,Y NATUnE, DUT BY THE SPIRIT. Christ is a Master who asks not mere outward homaae or conformity, but the reverential subjection, the cheerful obedience, of the whole nature. Let the spirit serve him, and the devotion of the bodily powers will follow, to prove the sincerity of love.-T.