May 4

MAY 4.—“And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”—Luke 24:52, 53.

THIS was the consequence of the affecting transaction recorded in the preceding verses. “He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven”—Upon this four things are recorded of these blessed disciples.

First, their adoration of him—“They worshipped him.” Full of astonishment, and straining their eyes to follow him in his traceless flight, they were standing when he had ascended: and hence the angelic messengers said, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” They then kneeled, and prostrated themselves upon the ground—and “worshipped him.” And what was this worship? It was nothing less than Divine. It was addressed to a being now absent, and whose senses therefore could not advertise him of the homage: for they not only worshipped, but worshipped him. The enemies of the present truth are embarrassed with the case of Stephen. They cannot deny that he prayed to Christ, when he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;” and “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” But they reply, that he saw Christ “standing on the right hand of God:” and therefore addressed him: conceding that to have addressed him in this manner, had he been absent and invisible, would have been no less than idolatry. Yet not to observe that the petitions themselves were very strange ones, to offer to a creature, even if present and in sight, we find prayer addressed to him when he was undeniably invisible and absent. Paul speaks of “all who called upon the name of the Lord Jesus.” In his own prayer for the Thessalonians he mentions him, even before the Father. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” And the disciples here worshipped him after “he was carried up into heaven.”

Secondly. Their obedience—“And they returned to Jerusalem.” We call this obedience, because he had expressly enjoined it. “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.” “Being assembled together with them, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.” It was all along foretold that the Christian dispensation was to commence from the metropolis of Judea. “The Lord shall send the rod of his strength out of Zion.” “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” There Jesus died and rose again. There the Apostles were to open their commission; and the Holy Spirit was to be poured down to qualify them to preach the Gospel to every creature. At this time Judea was the centre of the known world; for America was not yet discovered, and probably not inhabited. It was the most surrounded and the most accessible situation; and therefore when the Lord made the feast unto all people, he spread it upon this mountain; the table was in the middle of the room. It would be an evi-

dence in favour of Christianity, that it was published immediately, on the spot where the facts were alleged to have occurred. And it would show the compassionate disposition of the Founder, that he would have repentance and remission of sin in his name to be published first at Jerusalem. Hence he required their return thither. And they, instead of fleeing or concealing themselves, repaired back to a place full of danger—a place where lately they had killed their master, and would be still more likely to hate and persecute themselves. This would be a great trial of their obedience. They were going like lambs into a lair of wolves. But they had nothing to do with events. They knew his order for their conduct; and the path of duty is the path of safety. Yea, we see,

Thirdly, their gladness; for they not only returned, but “with great joy.” This seems surprising. He is a bad relation, we say, that is not missed. How we feel the removal of a friend or a minister who has been useful to us! and not to feel, would be a criminal insensibility. What a loss then did the disciples sustain when deprived of their Lord and Saviour, who had always guided, preserved, and comforted them! Accordingly, when the intimation was first given, sorrow filled their hearts. But we here see the advantage of knowledge. For he had opened their understandings, and explained to them the Scriptures: and they now saw—That though he was going to leave them as to his bodily presence, he would be with them spiritually—That his departure would result in his own exaltation and glory—That it was also expedient for themselves that he went away—That he would appear in the presence of God for them, and be their advocate with the Father—That he would be able to make all things work together for their good—That he would prepare a place for them, and come again and receive them unto himself, that where he was they might be also. And what could they want more, to induce them to rejoice? But,

Fourthly, they were as grateful as they were joyful—“And were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” That is, they constantly repaired thither at the seasons of devotion. For we read that “when” upon their return to Jerusalem “they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas, the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” But their private engagements did not keep them from the public services of the sanctuary, as often as they returned. We are not to forsake the house of our God: and we are to “enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.” It is easy to see what was the cause of their excitement, and which led them to magnify the Lord, and to exalt his name together. They blessed and praised him for all his mercies, but above all, for his unspeakable Gift—That he was delivered for their offences, and raised again for their justification—That he ever lived to make intercession for them—That he had taken possession of heaven on their behalf—and that in him they were blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Let us cherish the same disposition, and follow their example. And let our gratitude be real