May 10

While they beheld he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.—Acts 1:9.

Jesus had now fulfilled all his engagements upon earth—he had lived and died for the salvation of the world—he had given demonstrative evidence of his resurrection from the dead—he had taught his disciples fully, and commissioned them to preach his gospel to every creature—he had pledged his presence with each and with all of them, even to the end of the world—and now the period of his return to his kingdom and glory had arrived; therefore he led his disciples out as far as Bethany, and there, while in the act of blessing them, he was received out of their sight. Let us notice some of the particulars connected with this illustrious event. The time of Christ's ascension was forty days and forty nights after his resurrection— thus giving ample space and opportunity for his enemies to disprove the fact of his resurrection. And thus giving to his own disciples abundant means of being thoroughly satisfied themselves in reference to that great truth on which the whole structure of Christianity was to rest. Then notice the precise place of his ascension—the Mount of Olives—a place which he had often consecrated with his devotions—the place where his deep and mysterious sufferings commenced. It is remarkable how Jesus made choice of mountains as the scenes of most of the important events of his wonderful life. On one of these he delivered his celebrated sermon, which contains the entire code of the laws of Christianity. Another was the scene of his transfiguration. A third, even the memorable Calvary, was the place of his crucifixion And now he stood on Olivet's elevated summit, and from thence ascended into heaven.