May 2007
To our Web Readers,
MAY’S SUNNY DAYS
The month of May is a beautiful
month. It heralds those azure skies which are the promise of high summer. It was
up into one such sky that our Lord ascended about this time of the year.
Ascension day deserves to be marked by believers. It signals the throne ministry
of our Lord Jesus-mediating for sinners and interceding for saints-and preparing
the church for His return. This ministry as an old preacher, Harry Ironside,
noted is marked by the usage “Christ Jesus” in Paul’s correspondence-as distinct
from “Jesus Christ”-which refers in the main to the Lord’s ministry while on
earth.
TESTIMONY TO THE LORD IN GLORY
All the gospel writers pronounce
on the Lord’s going up into glory and of it the creed says “He ascended into
heaven from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.” Gone -yet
only a prayer away. Gone-yet God’s promise stands “I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” When Israel said good-bye to Moses God gave them Joshua and
trysted His sure presence all their wanderings o’er. Well might we sing with
gusto “Lord of all being throned afar whose glory shines from sun and star,
centre and soul o f every sphere, yet to each loving heart how dear.”
MATTHEW
In that mount to which Jesus drew
the eleven in Galilee-where he had once for all given them his authoritative
instructions (Greek = ETAXATO)-they beheld Him and worshipped him-though even in
worship some were of two minds-there was something so majestic so glorious
now-they fell down in worship but became confused-till Jesus came very close to
them-they saw the detail of his features and those tell-tale marks-and they
listened to that familiar and kindest voice they knew from the great sermon in
the earliest days and ever since. This time it had a powerful factual
message-“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
me-march-teach-baptise into the one name of the Yahweh-Father Heir of the ages
and alone Spirit of holiness-teach all I set out on this mount-and Look well-as
the “I am” I will be with you all the time till your sacrificial ministry of
sharing the burdens comes to fulfilment. Matthew records 58 “Beholds”-compelling
sights-special one-off moments that grabbed the eyes and the soul. This one
means “keep looking” for even when you cannot see me I will be with you some
more days –and unseen in every day- till you see me daily once more in the
kingdom of a thousand years-in short “all the days.” (Matthew 28 16-20)
MARK
Mark records the stubborn refusal
o f the apostles to believe the reports of the women on the resurrection-in the
context of the Lord’s rebuke of lacking faith. He then records what must have
been one of Christ’s final challenges to “their”faith-when He signalled “new
tongues” “exorcism” “protection in deadly dangers” and “divine healing” as areas
for the exercise of faith. Mark then tells us that the Lord spoke tenderly once
for all to them (as registered in Acts 1) and was received up in heaven and was
enthroned once for all in divine and heavenly power. So they heralded everywhere
His Lordship-His cross and his rule and the Lord granted signs that “followed
immediately” or “pursued the enemy of souls” (Greek= EPAKOLOUTHOUNTON) (Mark
1615-20)
LUKE
Luke tells of the walk up Olivet
toward Bethany-of the parting to different stations of strategic service (Greek
DIESTE)-Christ in Glory to which he was borne away.They went back to Jerusalem
joyous with the sight of blessing of the pierced hands as the last sight-arms
outstretched encompassing the world.The prompting of the angels-“Why stand
longer”-He will return as if to say-“there’s much to do”(Lk24 50ff&Acts1.
JOHN
John ends his narrative with the
Lord’s word to Peter, “If I will that he(John)remains alive till I come(cf
Revelation 1.17) what is that to you”. He has dealt with the ascension in
chapters 14-16 in the Upper room-“Now I am going to Him who sent me-yet none of
you asks where I am going” “I came from the Father and entered the world-now I
am leaving the world and going back to the Father…I have overcome the world”The
ascension pronounces MISSION ACCOMPLISHED-VICTORY-and challenges us to keep the
faith-fight the good fight-enter into His victory and keep in view his presence
and his outstretched arms!
Yours In the joy and certainty of
resurrection-
Pastor Bob
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