V. Tue WITNeSssES OF THE SCENE. The witnesses of the scene were men on earth and angels from the sky—the one to testify that he rose from earth, the other to bear witness that he entered heaven. The former fact may perhaps be expressed by éwhp6y, the other by 4veAhpén ; while his intermediate progress and journey between may be expressed by dvepépero, imperfect, and ropevouévov, participle—both marking his gradual ascent. The human spectators, struck with the grandeur of the scene, stood as if riveted to the spot, and continued gazing up into heaven as though they would never be satisfied with seeing such a sight; or perhaps the surprise it occasioned was blended with sorrow, as if their Lord and Master had gone from them never to return. But two angels, apparelled in white, comforted them with the assurance that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from them into heaven,” shall come again in like manner through the riven sky visibly and gloriously. The human witnesses of the Ascension felt personally interested in the result, the angelic looked pryingly into the things con- nected therewith. The sorrow of the disciples was succeeded by great joy, for though they had lost his bodily presence, his spiritual presence—nearer, closer, in every place, and at all times—is promised them instead.
VL THE PLACE WHENCE HE ASCENDED. The place of the Ascension suggests a lesson of instruction and comfort. A garden on the western slope of Olivet had been the place of his sorest trial and the scene of his deepest tribulation prior to the Crucifixion ; an upland on the eastern side, or near the summit of the same hill, was the place of his triumph, On one side was the dark enclosure, still noted for its sombre aspect and gloomy olives, where the Saviour agonized, sweating great drops of blood, and praying for the bitter cup. if possible, to pass; on the other side was the spot whence he ascended. There, tov, men and angels met—men asleep from sorrow and oblivious of sympathy, an angel ministering strength and succour to the suffering Son of God; here men are rapt spectators, and angels swell his train. On one side of the mount were sorrow and suffering, on the other glory and triumph. May it not to some extent be the same with ourselves? The valley of Achor, which means “ trouble,” has often proved the door of hope. “ We glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Humiliation goes before exaltation ; the cross precedes the crown: “If we suffer with him, we shail also be glorified together ;” while our trials here shall enhance our triumph hereafter.
VII. 'THE PURPOSES SERVED BY THE ASCENSION. One purpose was triumph over his and our enemies. Having spoiled principalities, or reft them from him, he made a show of them openly. It was a custom of antiquity for » conqueror on the day of hig triumph to have captives bound to his chariot and dragged along at his chariot-wheels, So with Christ, When he led captivity captive, he bound to his chariot-wheels sin, Satan, death, and hell, Sin he buried in his own grave, having borne its penalty. As for
| oa. xvi. 1—20.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 371
Satan, the old serpent, he has bruised his head, destroying his works. Death he over- came by dying, and through death he has destroyed him that had the power of it; while in him and by him we can adopt the tone of triumph and say, “O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?” Of the grave he has said, “I will be thy destruction ;” and the day is hastening on apace when the earth shall cast forth her dead. Another purpose of the Ascension is the bestowal of gifts. On the day of a triumph the conqueror distributed many and costly gifts, sometimes dealing them out deliberately, and sometimes throwing them broadcast among the multitude. We read of Julius Casar, on the occasion of a great triumph, bestowing munificent donations on his soldiery, and distributing many gifts of grain and gold to the people as they crowded around. A greater than Cwxsar or Solomon is here. Jesus, on the day of his triumph, having receiving gifts for triumphal distribution, “gave gifts unto men... he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Even on the rebellious he has con- ferred his favours, “ that the Lord God might dwell among them.” From the day of his ascension until now he has lavished on his people, with unstinted generosity and most bountiful hand, the benefits of salvation and the results of his redemptive work.
VILL Preparation abovg, Having made | ease for us when he was here below, he is gone to prepare a place above. He ascended to providea place for us; and, having prepared it for us, he is now preparing us for it. In his Father’s house are many mansions; he is gone to prepare one of those mansions for each of his followers. A mansion! Here is a word that denotes stability and implies duration. The most solid structure that ever man reared shall yield to the tooth of time. The pyramids of Egypt shall one day, we doubt not, be levelled with the sands of the desert that blow around them. The Roman Colosseum shall perish. The Parthenon of Athens shall be left without one pillar standing. St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s shall become heaps of rubbish. The castles of kings, that seem to defy decay, shall moulder. Earth itself shall be removed, and its everlasting hills shaken. But all the many mansions in glory shell be dursble as the throne of God himself, and stable as the pillars of the universs,
®O Lord, thy leve’s unbounded—= So full, so vast, so free! Onur thoughts are all confounded Whene’er we think on thee: Por us thou cam’st from heaven, For us to bleed and die, That, purchased and forgives,
We might ascend on high.” Jo de G.
1 =e
~
» a 7 * : 4
HOMILETICAL INDEX
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK.
OHAPTERB L
THuNE The Beginning of the Gospel The Ministry of the Forerunner The Baptism of Christ ... The Temptation of Ohrist .e The Divine Preacher Fishers of Men eee Obrist’s Authority in Teaching “Having Authority” eas Ohrist’s Authority over Spirits Christ’s Domestic Ministry... The Healer of Multitudes ... Prayer and Work... Seeking Jesus ows The Leper healed... “Moved with Compassion” John’s Baptism and Christ's
oot
The Call of the Disciples ... The Authority of Jesus o«e The Leper’s Petition ARS
Christ and the Demons “The Region .. . round about” The History of a Prayer of Christ The Ministry of Meroy Christ’s Call to Busy Men ... The Home and the Synagogue Christ the Healer... Glad Tidinge The Consecration of Jesus oo. Soul-Emancipation
The Progress of Health The Leper vs
The Official Papmation
MARE II.