the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
While they beheld he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:9. He was parted from them, and carried up to heaven. And they worshipped him. Luke 24:51-52.
The disciples saw Christ bleeding upon the cross, bowing His head in death, buried, and the sepulchre sealed. Then, undoubtedly, was also their faith completely buried. How hard would it not have been for them to believe, even though an angel had told them, "This Jesus, who lies in the sepulchre, and in whom there is no trace of life, shall ascend in the cloud, up to heaven before your eyes. " But behold, it came to pass, nevertheless, however hard it was to believe. As small and weak as the faith of the disciples was at that time, so great became their joy and adoration later, when they saw with their own eyes that which was so hard to believe. Thus it is with the promises of God. Thus it is with ourselves. We who now walk in the dust must believe that we shall once shine as the stars, that we shall see Him as He is and be like Him. No matter how incredible this may seem, it shall nevertheless come to pass. Whatsoever the Lord promises, that will He assuredly keep, and much more. It will all take place and far surpass our boldest expectations. Then we shall stand humbled, as the disciples, and yet rejoice because the Lord is greater, more faithful, and more true than our weak faith could conceive Him to be. How small Jesus was in the manger! How poor and lowly! And later, on the cross, how bruised, how despised, how rejected, how powerless, how abased! But shortly afterwards, on the day of ascension, how great, how glorious, how powerful, how highly exalted above all others! Thus the disciples worshipped. I believe that I would have worshiped too. But in the stable, on the cross, where all cursed and reviled Him what would I have done then?
Jesus lives! to Him the throne
High o’er heaven and earth is given:
I shall go where He is gone,
Live and reign with Him in heaven.
God is pledged; weak doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.
