The meal offering as fulfilled by the Lord (Phil. 2)
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Phil 2
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…
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion or figure as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Now in Luke's Gospel.
Just several verses here and there in the course of the book.
Chapter 1.
Much of what one might bring before you tonight has already been touched on.
Nonetheless, they are such wonderful scriptures that I would rather this evening were a simple perusal,
meditation upon these things, rather than an exposition of the word.
Chapter 1, verse 34.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee.
Therefore also, that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Chapter 2, verse 6.
And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
A little bit further down, verse 13.
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Chapter 3, verse 21.
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also, being baptized and praying,
the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him,
and a voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.
Chapter 13.
Just to get the connection, I'll read from verse 33.
Nevertheless, I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following.
For it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee,
how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings,
and ye would not.
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate, and verily I say unto you,
ye shall not see me until the time come when ye shall say,
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Chapter 19.
And verse 41.
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying,
If thou hadst known, even thou, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace,
but now they are hid from thine eyes.
The day shall come upon thee that thine enemy shall cast a trench about thee,
encompass thee around, keep thee in on every side,
shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee,
and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another,
because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Chapter 22.
And verse 39.
And he came out and went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives,
and his disciples also followed him.
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast,
and kneeled down and prayed, saying,
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me,
nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly.
His sweat was as it were great drops of blood, falling down to the ground.
And when he rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples,
he found them sleeping for sorrow and said unto them,
Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
And chapter 23.
Verse 27.
And there followed him a great company of people and of women,
which also bewailed and lamented him.
And Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me,
but weep for yourselves and for your children.
For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say,
Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bear and the paps which never gave suck.
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us and to the hills, cover us.
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
And there were also two other malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.
And the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left,
then said Jesus, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Verse 39.
One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying,
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him saying, Does not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds.
But this man has done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today,
Thou shalt be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixth hour.
There was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour and the sun was darkened
and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
And having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now when the centurion saw what was done,
he glorified God saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
And all the people that came together to that site,
beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned.
And all his acquaintance and the women that followed him from Galilee
stood afar off beholding these things.
Finally, right at the end, chapter 24 and verse 50,
And he led them out as far as to Bethany,
and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
And he came to pass while he blessed them,
he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy
and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Again, as I say, I just want to consider these so well-known verses for a little bit
in order that something of the wonderful character of that life divine below
and yet seen in a man might come before us.
The last time that we were here,
I believe we had an impression of the greatness and the glory of his person,
of who he is, and the work that he did when he laid down his life
and offered himself as a sweet savor to God.
The one who can say, I have glorified thee on the earth.
The one that God has now straightway glorified.
I believe that we had an impression of the greatness of the glory of his person.
But this afternoon and this evening through these scriptures,
it might be that we might have an impression of the beauty,
the gentleness, the sweetness, the evenness, the loveliness of Jesus as a man.
The psalmist could say that the charm of a man is his gentleness.
And you know, as you read through the gospel of Luke,
and there's a great profit in sitting down and perhaps reading a gospel right through
from beginning to end.
It may take you an hour or so, but it's well worth doing.
It's sometimes a good thing to sit back, as it were, and take a long look at scriptures.
Read the gospel of Luke right through beginning to end, and you'll get an impression.
You may be able to remember the detail as well, but you'll get an impression
of the loveliness of that man who walked through this world.
Yes, glorifying God in everything that he said and did,
but at the same time coming so near and making himself so available,
so attractive.
To quote the words that he uses himself in chapter 10 concerning that certain Samaritan
as regards that man who had fallen down into the gutter,
it says that he came right where he was.
And the gospel of Luke brings the Lord Jesus,
Son of God.
Let us never forget who he is as to his imperson.
And that was brought before us this afternoon, and again I believe in the scriptures
that one has read from Philippians this evening.
The glorious greatness of who he is,
and yet, coming so near to us in the loneliness of his manhood,
he has brought God down to us into this world.
Immanuel, God with us, they said.
Oh, and how attractive.
I say these words reverently, but with meaning,
that when one reads the gospel of Luke and thinks of the attractiveness of Jesus,
I say it reverently, but how attractive he has made God.
How attractive he has made God.
I wonder if we sufficiently realize that when we think upon the sweetness of Jesus,
that we're thinking upon God himself come down in infinite grace
to declare all that he is in grace for the blessing of man.
You know, I felt before looking at the gospel of Luke,
I felt compelled to read those verses in the Philippian epistle.
Because we may sometimes overlook the fact
that that profound doctrinal exposition of his person
is couched in the form of an exhortation.
It starts off with, let this mind be in you.
And what the apostle is doing is bringing before us
the perfection of obedience.
I believe it's Mr. Darby somewhere.
He's got an article that is just called Obedience.
And he makes the comment, something similar to it,
that it is the most exalted character of manhood.
We sometimes may not have grasped what that involves.
The most exalted feature of manhood in the sight of God is obedience.
And flowing out from that is dependence.
And flowing out from that is all the attractability,
the meekness, the gentleness, the kindness, the compassion.
They all flow out from a manhood that was absolutely obedient to God.
We read, did we not, as to his person, his being,
as to his essence,
he thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
I just want to leave with you some words from this section for you to meditate.
Form of God.
Form of a servant.
I think there are those in the company that can check up on this,
probably know it,
that in the original language they are both the same words.
I know they are both the same in English, form.
But I just want to emphasize and leave with you again
a profound and fundamental truth that we touched on this afternoon.
As to his person, as to his being, form of God,
as to his essence, what he is intrinsically in himself, God.
But it says that he took upon him the form of a servant.
Now I'm not going to try and explain what that means,
because I do not think we can.
But it brings before us the uniqueness of his manhood,
that what he was down here as a man
was absolutely and completely compatible with what he was in his Godhead.
In his manhood here he was God over all,
blessed forevermore.
But he had stepped into manhood in order to make God known.
He was made in the likeness of men.
Form, what he was in his essence, in his being,
made in the likeness of men.
He came down into this world and could be taken account of.
He says of himself in John's Gospel,
and I believe it's the only incident where he says it,
a man who has told you the truth.
As to his outward appearance,
he was made in the likeness of men.
He was born of a woman,
a child, an infant, a child,
growing up into manhood.
That was the form, the fashion that he took.
He became a man.
But being found in that figure that refers to that condition,
what is in keeping with manhood.
In those circumstances of manhood.
As to him, he says he humbled himself.
He became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
So I just leave with you for your meditation,
form of God, form of a servant,
likeness of men, he took up manhood
and being found in that figure, in that condition,
he humbled himself and he became obedient.
We touched on that verse in the Hebrew epistle.
He learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
He went through all the circumstances
that were commensurate with a place of obedience.
Experimentally, in every department,
he learned what it was to be obedient as a man
to God his Father.
And he took that obedience to the ultimate
as far as the cross.
And then as even the death of the cross.
Bringing before us the perfection of that obedience
that was demonstrated in his manhood
that went even to the death of the cross.
But let us just look at these few verses
that we have read in the Gospel of Luke.
Again, just to perhaps put simply
some of the things that we said this afternoon
in relation to the Gospel of Luke,
which again, maybe one or two things
that you've never noticed before.
The Gospel of Luke commences literally
with a priest, an angel, and a golden altar.
Now you know, when Luke began to write this Gospel,
he says that he wrote with method or in order.
There was a particular method and reason
why things are said and where they are said
in the Gospel of Luke.
He doesn't record things historically.
I believe Mark does that.
But it's been said that Luke records incidents morally.
In other words, there is a spiritual link
in the incidences that he records.
And it is good if we can discern that.
And that is why I want to just bring before you
that the Gospel of Luke begins with a priest
serving at the golden altar.
What was he doing?
He was putting incense on the golden altar
that that cloud might have risen up.
That was another one of the things I believe
that was done morning and evening.
A good little study in searching out these things
in the tabernacle, the things that were done
every morning and the things that were done every evening.
Here's another one of them.
Incense was put on that golden altar
every morning, every evening.
That there might be a fragrance rising up
to the nostrils of God from the midst of his people.
And that's where the Gospel of Luke starts.
You see, the Gospel of Luke is going to bring
the person of the Lord Jesus before us in a way
that is in keeping with that character.
He's going to bring before us a life that was fragrant to God
from morning to evening, every day.
And it's brought before us in a way
that it might be as food for us.
Because you can't miss it, dear brethren,
and I hope you haven't missed it,
that the Gospel of Luke ends
almost as it begins in the same place,
in the temple.
But this time it's not just one priest
serving at an altar
who was characterized a bit by unbelief
and because of that was struck dumb.
But when you get to the end of the Gospel of Luke
you've got a company of people
who are continually in the temple
praising and blessing God and filled with joy.
That's the moral effect of the Gospel of Luke.
That is the moral effect that the Spirit of God
will produce in our souls
as he brings before us
the perfection of the manhood of Jesus
seen in this Gospel of Luke.
So we commenced with the words of the angel
not to Zacharias but to Mary.
There was no unbelief and doubt in Mary's mind.
There was a simplicity, a genuineness.
She desired that it might be to her
be it unto me according to thy word.
You see even in Mary
and of course it's only Luke that records these things
you won't find this in Matthew.
Mark of course puts us immediately
into the Lord's public service.
John starts with, in the beginning.
But Luke gives us the minute details of his birth.
Why?
Because Luke is going to bring before us his manhood.
And so Mary in the sweet dependent submission
of her soul to the communication that she had received
desires that it might be to her according to his word.
And what was she said?
She asked, not in unbelief
but she asked because of a desire
to know how the will of God would be accomplished
how this thing should be.
And we have this profound declaration
from the words of the angel
that we thought of this afternoon.
The holy ghost shall come upon thee.
The power of the highest shall overshadow thee.
Therefore also that holy thing.
I've often thought about that expression.
I can't exactly grasp it in one's mind
why it should say that holy thing.
Perhaps it's best for us to leave it.
But I can feel as it were even in these words
a guarding
and a sense of the sanctity
and the purity of what is being discussed here
of how that the holy spirit was going to conceive in Mary
and that that which should come forth from her
was to be holy to God.
Let us just pause there beloved brethren
and allow the spirit of God to establish in our minds
and in our affections
the absolute essentiality
of holding fast to the sinlessness perfection
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He did not partake of a nature
tainted by the fall
that he would have got from Joseph.
That which was born of Mary
she was the vessel that was used
in a perfectly natural birth.
There was nothing miraculous in the birth of Christ.
It was the most perfect
and normal birth that had ever taken place in this world.
But he was miraculously conceived
of the holy spirit of God.
Consequently
that holy thing that was born of Mary
shall be called the son of God.
Let us not try to explain these things beloved brethren.
Let us accept them in the faith of our souls
that this is what the word of God says
and let us hold tenaciously to it
because to give it up
opens the flood gates
of evil and wrong doctrine.
He turned over to the actual birth
and she brought forth her first born son
wrapped him in swaddling clothes
laid him in a manger
because there was no room for them in an inn.
You cannot conceive a picture
more simple
more lowly
more humble
than that which this verse brings before us.
Think just again of that expression that we read of
he laid aside his glory
or as it should be
he emptied himself.
Again
how can one try to explain what he emptied himself of?
He was God.
God cannot change what he is as to his person.
If he could he wouldn't be God.
But it says he emptied himself.
I think the only way that we can conceive what that verse means
is to read this verse
in Luke's Gospel
that that person
who thought it not robbery to be equal with God
was found
born of a woman
wrapped in swaddling clothes
as a little child
and laid
in a manger
because there was no room for them
in the inn.
God had become a man.
That was the form
that was the figure
that was the fashion
that was seen there
in that little scene
in Bethlehem.
Can't you appreciate the significance
of what you read a little bit lower down?
Glory to God
in the highest.
There was found there in that little scene
in such lowly circumstances
that which would lead ultimately to glory to God
in the highest
would bring peace to men
would establish righteousness in this world
but bring salvation
and the knowledge of God to such as you and I.
I say again beloved brethren
that these are scriptures that we do well
that we sit down in the quietness of our closets
in communion with the Lord
and allow the Spirit of God
to impress our souls
with the glory
and the majesty
and yet the meekness and the gentleness
and the loveliness
of what had taken place.
Well it might be that this verse
explains for us
what we read this afternoon
as to one of the forms of that offering
that it was mingled with oil.
But we read as to his public ministry
he comes forth
thirty years later
he grows up
increasing in favour with God
and with man
and comes out in verse 22
in the perfection of his public ministry.
Again it's a scene which we need to dwell upon.
The fact that God could look down
for the first time in this world
and see a man
that was totally for his pleasure.
This is my beloved son.
The Holy Spirit in a bodily form descending
and lighting and abiding upon him
anointed of the Holy Spirit
marked out
distinguished amongst all the sons of men
as to his perfect manhood
the Holy Spirit marking him out
and abiding upon him.
But you know as we move on through this gospel
and as we thought this afternoon a little bit
as to the way that the offering was prepared
we said that the Lord Jesus in his manhood
was tested
and that in his sufferings
he experienced completely
all the profound feelings
that the heart of man is capable of
but he felt for God
but he felt for God as a man.
I just want to pass on to you some thoughts
that one has had myself
and one did just refer to them this afternoon
that it could be
that we can detect sufferings of the Lord in his spirit
sufferings in his soul
sufferings in his body
but again beloved brethren
one almost hesitates
to speak of these things
lest one says something that is not right
because again we are speaking of a subject
that is most holy.
But you know I read to you scriptures
where we might see these things evidenced
have you ever thought
of how the Lord Jesus suffered in his soul?
We perhaps little understand his feelings
concerning the rejection of his people Israel
came unto his own
but his own people received him not.
We perhaps do not realise how keenly he felt
the way that that nation rejected him.
How in his soul he longed
to bring that nation into liberty
into relationship with God
to be amongst them as their king
his people.
And we read those two incidences in Luke's gospel
where the feelings of his soul
seemed to come out.
Think of the pathos of those words
O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem
how oft would I have gathered thee
as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings
but ye would not.
I believe those words bring before us
the sufferings in his soul
and show us how he felt
the rejection of the nation of Israel
and as he approached in chapter 19
and came near to that city
and he beheld it
he says he wept over it
he wept over it
as he because of who he was could look as it were
to what the future would hold
because of their rejection of him
the terrible carnage and conflagration
and suffering that that nation was to go through
he felt it in his soul
and it moved him to tears
but that wasn't just mere sentiment
there was no honey there
he felt for that nation in relation to God
and he felt for that nation in relation to himself
its king
and he felt for that nation
because of how it would suffer
I move on because the time moves on
chapter 22
verses which perhaps we so often come to in a morning meeting
where without any question
I believe we see the sufferings of the Lord Jesus
in his spirit
in anticipation
of that which the next few hours would entail for him
but see again how Luke presents it
and records things that Matthew and Mark do not
this incident is recorded in those two gospels
it's not in John
but in Luke
there are details added
that bring before us again pre-eminently
the dependence of his manhood
he came out as he was wont
or as it could be translated
as was his custom
often we've been told he's found in this gospel praying
at his baptism
Luke adds that he was praying
doesn't tell you that in Matthew
tells you it in Luke
on the mountain of transfiguration
Luke tells us as he was praying
doesn't tell you that in Matthew
tells you it in Luke
prayer
that character of dependence
and communion
that was perfect
in his manhood
and here
as was his custom
to resort thither to pray
he went and he took with his disciples
but it says he was withdrawn
again you know I believe we know
in our spirits
what it means when it says he was withdrawn from them
his love would have taken them further
is it in Matthew he says to Peter
could you not watch with me one hour
he wanted them near him
he was lonely
he looked for some to take pity
and he looked for comforters
but he couldn't find any
and he had to say to Peter
you can't follow me now
he was lonely
and he felt it
but he was withdrawn from them
that stone's cast not very far
if they'd have stayed awake
they could have seen him
and it says he kneeled down
it doesn't say that in Matthew
but as a dependent submissive man
he kneeled down
and he prayed
Father
if thou be willing
remove this cup from me
nevertheless not my will but thine
be done
and then it says
and there appeared an angel
from heaven
strengthening him
it doesn't say that in Matthew
it doesn't say that in Mark
but you see Luke
is perhaps
bringing to our affections
the acuteness
of the agony
that he was experiencing
in his soul
and it might be that it affected his body
because I believe the angelic strengthening power
could only be
relative to his body
an angel
appeared
strengthening
that human form
that he was found in
because of the struggle
that's what the word means
you look up
agona
in a concordance
the struggle
the combat
that was going on in his soul
and then it says an astonishing thing
being in an agony it says
he prayed more earnestly
could we allow for one moment the thought
that in the ten or eleven other times
Luke records that the Lord prayed
that he was never earnest
did he ever use lightness
in his intercession
his supplications
and his prayers
for I'll be the thought
but there came a moment
when the intensity
of the struggle
the agony
that was going through
his soul
and it says he prayed more earnestly
again I say beloved brethren
I don't think we can explain
or say what that meant
but the scripture says it
but it brings to us
in emphasis
the intensity
of the suffering that he was going through
in his spirit
at that moment
as he anticipated
and looked into that cup
and what it involved for him
in that dark
dark hour
but he said
not my will
but thine be done
and rising up
he goes hence
and we turned over
to the actual scene
of his crucifixion
and again
I just want to point out to you
the difference between Luke
and John
and Matthew and Mark
again there are details here
that reflect particularly
upon his manhood
I don't think Luke
brings the death of Jesus before us
at all
in regard to the matter of atonement
or the putting away of sin
I don't think that's the subject of Luke
Luke's gospel brings before us
a death
and the death of the cross
an obedience
that would go that far
and remember
Philippians chapter 2 is an exhortation
for the mind that went that far
and by that means
to be in us
so it cannot involve
his suffering for sin
and for sin
because we could never go that way
but it may be
that there are those
who have taken obedience
as far as death
like he did
thank God for them
they will have their reward
but Luke brings before us
an obedience
and a character of love
and dependence
that will go
as far as death
and in those circumstances
show still
all the sweetness
of a fragrance
and a frankincense
rising up to God
think of him as he approaches
the place of crucifixion
probably bearing the cross
and he looks around
and he sees weeping women
I don't comment upon
what may have been their motive
that brought forth their tears
it may have been human sentiment
it may have been honey
but because of who he was
he took account of it
he said don't weep for me
weep for yourselves
oh there was a compassion
there was a feeling
even at that moment
for others
and they brought him
with those two other malefactors
notice the commas beloved brethren
in that verse particularly
they were crucified with him
two other comma
malefactors
comma
they were different to him
they were malefactors
he was not
when they were come to the place
which is called Calvary
I know the word there in the original
is not there
but nonetheless beloved brethren
well unquestionably
that crucifixion
with suffering as to his body
is probably not his well
to allow the mind
to think upon the physical suffering
of those nails in his hands and feet
and those thorns in his brow
and the scourging of his back
but they are there
he suffered bodily
but what did it bring forth
father forgive them
father forgive them
can you remember how that in the sermon on the mount
the lord Jesus had exhorted his followers
love them that hate you
pray for them who despitefully use you
and here the lord Jesus
shows us how to do it
in those circumstances of acute
physical suffering
after that they had
set him up on that cross
he says father forgive them
that's divine love
that's God's love
that's what God is like
God is love
love never fails
love is as strong as death
where was it all demonstrated
Calvary
and Luke here shows us
the forgiveness
and the gentleness
and the meekness
of that man
when he records for us
probably the first words that the lord uttered
on the cross I believe there are seven
when he says father forgive them
you notice that Luke
he records three sayings of the lord
the first one
to his father
the last one
to his father
and the one in between
to the repentant thief
you see even there
we are faced with the perfection of his manhood
even in regard to that terrible crucifixion
undimmed was that communion that he had
in his manhood
between himself and his father
no cloud, no distance
he speaks in the intimacy
of love and communion
even when upon the cross
he says father forgive them
and then again Luke
records for us this incident
concerning these two other that were crucified with him
one that upraised him
save thyself and us
that's impossible
it's the only thing you know that the lord couldn't do
that thief you know asked for something
that it was impossible for god to do
he asked the lord
to save himself
and to save him as well
the hymn writer says you know
himself he could not save
love streamed
too deeply flowed
in love himself he gave
to pay the debt I owe
and you know that other thief
turning to him, repenting
declares to the world
this man has done nothing amiss
there it is beloved brethren
the testimony from a man dying beside the lord on the cross
to a life that was perfect
this man has done nothing amiss
he says lord remember me
and Jesus turning to him
brings him into all the nearness
the love of god
today thou shalt be with me
in paradise
in the scene of the darkness
it's mentioned
but it's passed over
almost so to speak
the temple vial is rent
and that system is set aside
Jesus cries with a loud voice
but Luke doesn't
record the words that he says
instead he gives us the end of that perfect life
he commits
for safe keeping
the word commend there
means to commit
to a person
for their safe keeping
because of a confidence
because of a trust
because of fidelity
and here the lord Jesus at the end of that perfect life
even though he had gone through the hours
those three hours of abandonment
here after it
he says father
into thy hands
I commend my spirit
different from John you see
in John he dismisses his spirit
and he gives up the ghost
that's in keeping because of who he is in John
all the dignity and majesty of his person
but in Luke
to the end
he is that perfect
obedient
dependent man
and so he says
father
into thy hands
I commend my spirit
and he dies
this is the beauty
this is the loveliness
of the manhood of Jesus
that Luke brings before us
that I believe the spirit of God would engage us with
as we think of that meal offering
all these features
that so delighted the heart of God
as he took account
of that shoot
out of a dry ground
how significant and how
inkeeping it is therefore
at the end of this gospel
we follow him out
as far as to Bethany
and while he communed with them
his hands uplifted in blessing
again you know
even that you know
it brings before us his manhood
hands uplifted in blessing
and he's carried up
I love those words you know
he says he was carried up
into heaven
it seems as if the glory descended for a moment
and the father as it were
grasped him and carried him up into heaven
such was the perfection
of his manhood
that had carried the will of God completely
to the end
even the death of the cross
that life that had delighted the father
right through death
now is claimed by the father
and he's carried up
into heaven
how well we can understand
and might it be so with our souls tonight
as we have thought
of his perfection
they worshipped him
they were moved in their spirits
in adoration towards him
and they returned to Jerusalem
with great joy
and were continually in the temple
praising
and blessing God
you know that's characteristic of this gospel
go through this gospel
and see how many times it is recorded
that men glorified God because of him
even that centurion
after he had been crucified
and yielded up his spirit to his father
it says that the centurion glorified God
and here is a company at the end of this gospel
who were so moved in their affections
towards himself
that they were praising
and blessing God
continually
oh beloved brethren
if something of that joy
of praise and adoration
might be ours tonight
as we go home
well our little time together
will have not been in vain
may the Lord bless his word …