And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 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.
Reader! conceive with what astonishment the disciples beheld the ascension of Christ! What must have been their feelings! What their holy joy! How gracious was it in the Lord, not only to them, but for the sake of the whole Church, to send those two angels in human form, to explain to the wondering Apostles what they saw? Their minds no doubt, were absorbed in contemplating the glorious sight, which so beautifully corresponded to the predictions of prophecy concerning it (see Psalms 24:1; Psalms 47:1; Psalms 69:1), and probably some of them might recollect, what Jesus had said to Nathanael: John 1:51, and to the murmuring Jews: John 6:62. But be this as it might, the angels called off their attention, from attending to the mere splendour of the sight, to the blissful consequences of their Lord's ascension. And oh! how sweet the scripture which follows: 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. Reader! ponder well these words. Your God, your Savior, in the same identity of Person; divine, and human, as he left the earth: so now remains, and so again will return, when his feet shall stand again on the very same mount from whence he went up. See Zechariah 14:4; Acts 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:10. And in the mean time, for the full scope of faith, in every need and want, we should never, no, not for a moment, forget, that the Son of God in our nature, is now in heaven, and there exercising his office, of an unchangeable priesthood, Hebrews 7:24. So that his mercies towards his people, are the mercies of both natures; and are manifested in this double way, and through such a medium as could not have been shewn had he been God only. His mercies are indeed infinite, because he is God: and his human nature in communicating them to us, renders them endless and unceasing from that Almighty power. But at the same time, they are all in One of our own nature, and they flow to us in, and through this nature, with a sweetness to endear them to our hearts. And hence the Apostle's direction to go to him, Hebrews 4:14-16. Reader! do you not believe this glorious article of our most holy faith? Do you not know, that our Emmanuel, God with us, God in our nature, is now in heaven? And do you not, if so, bring that belief into daily, hourly use? Are you not often at the heavenly court? And are you not, like the Apostles, looking for, and hastening unto the coming of the great day of his return? 2 Peter 3:12-14; Philippians 3:20-21.