The Ascension.
I. As far as the accompaniments of the Ascension were visible to men, they were the simplest and most unattractive that the case could admit. Even the Birth of the Saviour was far more honoured than His Ascension in supernatural accompaniments. On the Birth of Christ the heavenly host thronged the firmament; and in lofty accents heard by mortal ears, proclaimed the event. Not so upon the Ascension. There was nothing whatever of this angelic gratulation; Christ had trodden the winepress alone, and He ascended to His celestial kingdom alone, as though the attention of the beholders might not be distracted. And when the cloud had hidden Him, and the disciples were even straining their vision to catch another glimpse, two angels appear only to instruct these disciples, and not as attendants upon the ascending Redeemer. If the Saviour had gone away in terrible magnificence, there is many a timid Christian who would have feared that the Mediator in His unapproachable splendour and magnificence might have been forgetful of His followers. But those extended arms, and those parting words the unbelief must indeed be strong which is proof against these.
II. There is a great mistake in imagining that when God withdraws Himself in His gifts, He must withdraw Himself in anger. It may be much nearer the truth to say that He withdraws Himself in love. It is like the going away of Christ only because it is expedient a going away, of which it might be said that in departing He left His heart behind. Consider what may have been the attitude of your Heavenly Parent in removing what you have loved, and you may find cause to hope that the text has been true in regard to yourselves. "It came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them."
III. Note the effect wrought on the disciples by the Ascension of Christ an effect, you observe, not of sorrow, but of joy. In place of being disheartened by the separation, they were mightily encouraged, and "returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing God." Shall we grieve that the Visible Presence is withdrawn, and that there is no longer on earth the mighty and mysterious Personage who put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself and discomfited through dying the enemies of God and man? Not so! There is no reason for sorrow that He quits the earth on the wings of the wind. We could not detain Him below, we would have Him as our Mediator within the veil. This and this only, can secure to us those spiritual assistances through which we ourselves may climb the firmament.
H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit,No. 1,519.
References: Luke 24:50. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii. p. 307, Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes: Gospels and Acts,p. 118. Luke 24:50; Luke 24:51. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. v., pp. 167, 169; H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year,p. 105; W. Bull, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxi., p. 246; T. Jones, Ibid.,vol. xxii., p. 122; J. Vaughan, Sermons to Children,3rd series, p. 36. Luke 24:50-53. B. F. Westcott, The Revelation of the Risen Lord,p. 175; Homiletic Magazine,vol. xii., p. 265; G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines of Sermons,p. 88; Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 358. Luke 24:51. G. Gilfillan, Christian World Pulpit,vol. viii., p. 209; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iii., p. 279; J. Vaughan, Children's Sermons,5th series, p. 26. Luke 24:51; Luke 24:52. H. W. Beecher, Preacher's Monthly,vol. xix., p. 154.Luke 24:52. H. M. Butler, Ibid.,p. 337; Ibid.,vol. v., p. 266.