When the cloud had received Him, two men stood by the astonished disciples. These men were clad in heavenly attire — in white apparel. They had come as messengers from above to the disciples on earth, and so swiftly had they come on their errand, that as He went up, they stood by the disciples, and they also spoke to them and said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” He was hidden from the natural eye. The disciples could see no more than do we — blue or starry skies. The natural eye could behold Him no more. He had entered into glory. But the revelation from heaven came through these two men to the disciples on the earth: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” For the King shall come.
“Now we see not yet all things put under Him.” (Heb. 2:88Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8).) The kingdom tarries, is not yet restored to Israel; not yet does the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth as the waters the sea, “but we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and Honor.” We see into heaven, not indeed with the natural eye, but with Spirit-given perception, and lo! there Jesus is crowned.
Yet no scepter is seen in His hand, rather the frankincense — not yet hath God made His enemies His footstool — but as He sits on God’s right hand, in the place of highest glory and power, His hands are lifted up still: He is blessing His disciples on earth.
He is the Great High Priest on high. Such is His glory now. It is not that we see all things put under Him — far from it — for Satan holds a large sway over the earth, and sin and death prosper abundantly, but none the less, while the kingdom waits the King, does He not gain rich glories. We see Him in His present glory, and we see His people led by Him through a suffering and sin-stricken world to the home above.
It may seem strange, but it is His glory today to lead God’s people home, to sympathize with them on the way, and bear their burdens— yea, to succor in weakness, and to prevail in trial — and when sin leads astray it is He who recalls the soul, and when heart-broken it is He who sustains. He is “this same Jesus” on high that He was on earth below; His hands are lifted up to bless, though the heaven has received Him out of our sight. It may seem a strange thing even to His people that it is an Honor and glory to the Lord so to care for His own, so to prevail for them that not one shall be found missing when the roll-call is read; but so it is, His grace is like His name, “Wonderful,” and His power is almighty. “He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.” He stoops to our weakness, He meets us in our fears. When we feared the shipwreck, lo! Jesus stilled the storm; when we thought we should perish, lo! He was nigh to us, and whispered, “It is I: be not afraid.”
There are no straits, no circumstances, no trials, no despondences so severe that Jesus shall fail to bring us all through, and through all. “We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15, 1615For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15‑16).)
For eighteen hundred years He has conducted the affairs of His people; never has He once failed to hear the cry of any one of them. No child’s voice has He ever neglected, and long before we cried He saw our danger and our need. Let us then trust Him more truly day by day till He shall come with uplifted hands for us, even as He left this earth blessing His own.