BIBLE ENIGMA

What did Jesus do after He led His disciples to Bethany ?

Where did the disciples go forth and preach after Jesus sat down on the right hand of God ?

When was Jesus taken up into heaven?

When was the Lord received up into heaven ?

How did the disciples look toward heaven?

What do we read in Psalm sixty-eight, verse eighteen, about Jesus?

How far did Jesus lead His disciples out when He was parted from them?

What does the psalmist teach us in Psalm sixty-eight, verse twelve?

When Peter said that he was going fishing, what did they do as they went forth ?

What did the disciples answer Jesus when He asked them whether they had any fish or meat?

What do we read in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the second verse?

About what things did Jesus speak of with His disciples during the forty days after He arose from the grave?

The initials form four words telling us what happened to Jesus forty days after He arose from the grave. A.B.

Dear children, we read in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter one, that Jesus walked and talked with His disciples for forty days after He arose from the grave and then He went up into heaven.

As children, we all know the story about Jesus being born in the city of David, called Bethlehem, and how that He was laid in a manger for His crib because there was no room for Him in the inn. This makes us think about Christmas. At that time Jesus left His Father in heaven and came down upon this earth as a babe. God had given Jesus to the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. God had told Mary and Joseph that they should call His name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. &o Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Did He save you dear child? Is Jesus your Savior, is He mine? Are we a child of God, one of His people? He did not come to save every boy and girl, neither every man nor woman. Matthew tells us plainly “He shall save his people from their sins” Matt. 1:21. Jesus also tells us the same thing when He prays: “Father, I pray not for the world but for them which Thou has given me.” John 17:9.

The people who God the Father gave to His dear Son Jesus have sinned against God in Adam when he ate of the forbidden tree in Paradise. Did you ever read that story? Look it up in Genesis three and ask Jesus to explain it to you. That is how the people of God became sinners, with all the rest of mankind. They too lost all true knowledge of God, they are now naked sinners in the sight of God. They are shamefully naked and have no clothes to hide their shame. Children, you and I never want to be seen by anyone without being clothed, do we? However, none of us have any garments to cover our sinful heart or our naked soul. That is why we are afraid of God like Adam was when he fled in Paradise and tried to hide from God. So we were all driven from that beautiful garden because we disobeyed God’s command. See now how dead we are in our soul? And every one of God’s dear children, whom He loved long before the world was made by Him, because God loves all His dear children with an everlasting love, from eternity to eternity, they have also fallen in Adam their Covenant or Federal Head. You know that Adam was the Head of the whole human race. So all God’s dear children have sinned against God and are dead in trespasses and sins and need to be made alive again in their soul. If they are not born again they cannot see God.

But, how can all the dear children of God living in such a spiritual death of sin be born again? How can their naked soul be covered in the sight of God ? How can they be delivered from the fear and power of death?

They can only be born again in Jesus, for He is their Saviour. “He shall save His people from their sins.” He only prays for them; not for the world, but for them. So He came into this world, the second Adam, as Head of the children of God. They are the Church of the living God. They are the people whom God the Father gave unto Jesus. That is why Jesus says: “except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The people of God are a special people, a peculiar nation. That is what Jesus came into this world for, to save them. And after His life of suffering, and of death, and of being buried, and of rising from the dead, and appearing to His disciples, walking and talking, eating and drinking with them for forty days, He went back up into heaven to His Father and their Father.

Dear children, has Jesus ever led you out as far as to Bethany, that beautiful city? Do you remember who lived there? Three dear children of God! Who were they? Do you remember who was raised from the dead in that city? Get your Bible down from the shelf and turn to the Gospel of St. John and read the eleventh chapter. Now children, has Jesus raised you from the dead?

But we must go on to that city and onto the slope of the Mount of Olives and see Jesus lifting up His pierced hands and blessing His disciples. And from there Jesus is carried up into heaven while the angels of God and His disciples stand looking, yes, they stand gazing up into heaven. Jesus is gone! He is now in heaven as King over His people; as a priest or intercessor to pray for them; and soon to take His dear people up into heaven unto Himself. Is Jesus going to take you there? Is He praying for you now? Is He reigning and ruling in your heart and life ?

Oh, say you, how do I know that? Have you read about Him from His cradle to His grave? Have you been taught by Him ? Did He ever draw your heart unto Him? Did He ever speak to your soul ? Did He ever teach you like He did His disciples? Did He ever call you like He called young Samuel?

How does Jesus work all these things in the hearts of His dear children? By the Holy Ghost. Jesus promised to send the Comforter, the Spirit of God, after He ascended up into heaven. And He did send the Holy Ghost ten days after He went up into heaven. Read it in The Acts, the second chapter; read the entire chapter carefully dear children, it is beautiful like the little town of Bethany, with all its wonderful scenes. Oh children, Repent, repent of your sins says the Holy Ghost, by Peter. And again He says: “the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Think upon this.

Are you, am I, numbered among those who should be saved? Remember, Jesus is saving sinners every day! When shall we be saved and added to the church ? It is the Lord’s work indeed, but children, and friends, do we realize our souls need ? Or do we pass this matter by and cast it to the side of the road because it is a hindrance to us?

We need this same Spirit of God to be sent down into our soul by Jesus; to quicken us and to make us alive again unto God. Then we will be born again when the Holy Ghost descends into our heart to lead us into all truth. Then we will be made wise unto salvation and be truly converted, and indeed become as little children, living upon the loving care of God the Father. May we be granted such a blessing in His grace to the glory of God and the salvation of our immortal soul. Remember, Ascension day will be on May eighteen, and Pentecost on May twenty-eight. May the Lord Jesus apply His benefits unto us from His throne on high. Editor.

Our sincere thanks, dear friends, for your replies to the last enigma which is “Mary Magdalene”—John 20:18. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary—Matt. 27;61; All hail—Matt. 28:9 Repentance and remission of sins—Luke 24:47, Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished—Luke 24:22; Master—John 20:16; A bide with us—Luke 24:29; Go quickly, and tell His disciples—Matt. 28:7; Did not our heart burn within us?—Luke 24:32; Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat— Mark 16:14; Lovest thou me?—John 21:15, 16, 17; Except I shall see in His hands, etc.—John 20:25; None of them—John 21:12; Eleven—Mark 16:14. Replies have been received from: D. & D. Prol; J. Verblaauw & M. Van Grouw; R. & K. Verbla-auw; V. & R. Kaat; E. R. Quist; E. Mol; N. J., & M. Dekker; M. B. Goudzwaard; L. Kaat; R. Vandern Toorn; E. & G. Van Grootheest; L. Rus; G. & H. Teunissen; M. Droogers; B. & S. Van Dyke; G., M., & L. VanBeek; J. & L. Prol; L. W. Peters; L. & R. Kaat; A. & R. Vanden Toorn; J. & J. Schelling; H. & R. Westrate; W. Van Eck; K. & M. Frens.

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