"Received up Into Glory"

From: Messages of God's Love: 1946

From: Luke, Bible Talks On: The Perfect Man

Luke 24:50-53⁵⁰And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ⁵¹And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵³And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50‑53)

After the Lord Jesus arose from the tomb He appeared to the eleven disciples in different places and to many others who loved Him. He walked and talked with them, giving them “many infallible proofs”, (unmistakable proofs,) that He was alive (Acts 1:3³To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3).)

Then, after many days, He led the disciples out of the city of Jerusalem as far as Bethany on the mountain ridge, Olivet, and from there He went up from them into heaven; while they watched and worshiped Him, a cloud receiving and hiding Him from their sight.

‘While’ they looked steadfastly tard heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel who gave them words of great comfort (Acts 1:10¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (Acts 1:10)). It is written that the Lord went to “the right hand” of God the Father, which means the exalted and highest place.

“He (God) raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.” Eph. 1:20²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20).

It was written long before, that God would give Him that place: David wrote, “The Lord said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou on My right hand’” (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:34³⁴For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Acts 2:34); Heb. 1:3³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)).

A type, or picture, of Christ’s work finished, and of Him raised, was the first sheaf of the ripe grain harvest which was to be waved “before the Lord.” When Christ was raised, He was “the First Fruits unto God.” His people are as “the harvest” for God.

Because He was raised, His people may know they also will be raised, for it is written, “Christ, the First Fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:23²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23).

“He that raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken (make alive) your mortal (dying) body.” Romans 6:9⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (Romans 6:9).

It was “on the morrow after the sabbath”, or the first day of the new week, that the ripe sheaf was to be waved. And it was on the first day of the week, “when the sabbath was past”, that Christ arose (Lev. 23:10, 11¹⁰Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: ¹¹And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:10‑11); Mark 16:1, 6¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mark 16:1)
⁶And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6)).

All was as known and planned long before, and as He had told His disciples (Luke 18:33³³And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. (Luke 18:33)).

People then who believed and loved the Lord, met on the first day of every week to give honor to God and to His Son for the blessings brought by that death and resurrection. We now may meet the same, to give our thanks, that it was for our sins He died, and honor Him now alive in Heaven.

How many days was the Lord on earth after He arose? (Acts 1:3³To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3)).

To how many did He appear at one time? (1 Cor. 15:6⁶After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:6)).

What did He last do for the disciples? (Lu. 24:50).

ML 04/21/1946

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