Vers. 15—18.—The great commission. Whether these words were spoken at once upon one occasion, or whether they are the summing up of many words uttered by our Lord between his resurrection and ascension, one thing is clear—they are the unburdening of his great heart of what was the load chiefly pressing upon it. Why had he condescended to live upon earth, to fulfil a ministry of humiliation, to endure unequalled woes, to die a death of ignominy and of shame? Surely not that after his departure from earth all things might be as before. But rather and only that, as the | great foreseen result of his earthly advent and ministry, a new and heavenly power might be introduced into humanity, a new spiritual kingdom might be set up in the world, and a new day might dawn upon the long, dark night of time. Hence the gospel which he caused to be proclaimed, the commission which he entrusted to his disciples and especially his apostles. Hence the authority Jesus entrusted to his servauts, and the vast sphere he contemplated for their labours of witness and of work.
I. THE COMMISSION ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH. 1. What they were to take. “The gospel,” glad tidiuys of salvation and eternal life through a Divine Redeemer, who died for the world’s sins, and lives for the world’s eternal life. 2. 'To whom they were to take it. “To the whole creation,” te. to all mankind, wf every race and every language, as what is intended for all and is adapted to all. 3. Who were to take it ? The eleven first received the sacred charge, but all Christ’s disciples who should believe through them on his Name were entrusted with this great commission, “ Freely,” said Christ, “ye have received; freely give.” No order of men, but the whole Church, receives this sacred trust.
Il. THE RESPONSIBILITY LAID UPON THE WORLD TO WHICH THE GOSPEL COMES, A great alternative is propounded. There is no middle course supposed. Belief and baptism are the condition of salvation; disbelief ensures condemnation. "We may well admire the wisdom and the condescending compassion which determined such a condition as faith as the condition upon which the highest spiritual blessings may be enjoyed. It is possible to the youngest, to the least learned, to the feeblest of men. Yet ‘t is a mighty principle; being able, when directed towards a Divine Saviour, to secure all good which man can need and God can give, both for time and for eternity.
Il. Tue cgepENTIAL8 ACCOMPANYING THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOSPEL, 1, What
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they were. There are enumerated: power to exorcise demons, power to speak with tongues, immunity from harm by poison or by serpent-bite, the ministry of super- natural healing. 2. Why they were given. It was to authenticate the message and the messengers. As in Christ’s ministry spiritual authority was indicated by miracu- lous works, so was it in the ministry of Christ’s followers and apostles. As a matter of fact, attention was thus drawn to the Word of life. 3. Why they were withdrawn. When this exactly was we cannot perhaps decide; but as the purpose of their bestowal was temporary, it is evident that when this purpose was answered, and Christianity was launched upon the waters of the world, it was in accordance with Divine wisdom that miracles should cease,
Vers. 19, 20.— Ascension. Christ ascended on high. How could it be otherwise ? He came into this world in a mannerand with accompaniments so remarkable, he lived in this world a life so singular and unique, that it was but appropriate that he should quit this world as none other has ever done. What is meant by his being “ received up ”—-where “ heaven ” is,—this we do not know; our knowledge is limited, and our power of conceiving the eternity and infinity around us is feeble. One thing we do see, and that is, that Jesus finished his work on earth and then departed; and one other thing we see, almost as clearly, viz. that the moral, spiritual work which was the object of his mission, so far from coming to an end with his bodily departure, really then commenced, and has been proceeding ever since. How he interests himself in it and carries it on, we can only tell in general and scriptural language; that he does so, is plain to every spiritually enlightened man. St. Mark, who plunged at the outset so boldly into his task of relating “the gospel of the Son of God,” here, with charac- teristic brevity, clearness, and vigour, tells the last portion of his narrative—the ascension of the Saviour into heaven, and the consequent continuation of his work on earth.
J. THE AscENSION IS THE COMPLETION OF OUR SAVIOUR’S EARTHLY MINISTRY. To those who believe that the Lord Jesus arose from the dead, the narrative of the Ascension can present little difficulty. It is impossible to believe that he who consented to die, and who conquered death, could again enter the grave. It remained for him to quit the earth without dying; and what we read of his resurrection-body leads us to believe that this was not only possible, but natural and easy. In fact, the Ascension may be regarded, not as the consequence so much as the completion of the Resurrection; and, in apostolic language, the two events are sometimes referred to in one and the same expression. How explicitly had Jesus foretold this great event! Early in his ministry he had declared, “‘ No man hath ascended into heaven, save he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.” Expostulating with the cavillers at Capernaum at a later period, he had asked them, “‘ What then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?” And on the day of his resurrection he had directed Mary to take to his disciples this message: “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.” The foresight and authority of our Saviour were proved by the correspondence between his words and the event which exactly fulfilled them. The Ascension implied that all the
urposes of the incarnation and advent of the Redeemer were accomplished. What fs came to do, to suffer, and to say, he had already done, suffered, and said. He did not leave the earth until on earth there was no more for him todo. In his recorded intercessory prayer, addressing his Father, he said, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
IL Tae Ascension I8 THE COMMENCEMENT OF OUR SAVIOUR’S REIGN. We are too rone to think of human life as if it closes when the last breath is drawn and the eart beats no more. We forget that this is but the birth to the higher, the proper,