LESSON XVII

The Great Forty Days

Acts I.

"Speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."

I T will be necessary for the teacher to again thoroughly enter into the teaching on "The Kingdom of God" in the second of the Lessons on St. Mark. Understand our Lord's beautiful Ideal for that Kingdom. Get class to see that the object of the Church is the realizing that ideal on earth. If Christians forget that object, they forget the purpose for which Christ wants them in His Church.

Last Sunday story of Resurrection. Fitting sequel now. The "Great Forty Days" between Resurrection and Ascension.

Vv.  1, 2. What "former treatise"? St. Luke, beginning history of Church here, refers us back to the foundation on which the Church rests—the Gospel. "Former treatise of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until  the day," etc. The present treatise is of all that Jesus continued  to do and teach after  that day. Book not really Acts of Apostles— only acts of two Apostles—it is really acts of our Lord by means of His servants after He had ascended. But was He not gone away from them? Matthew xxviii. 20—"with you always." They felt His presence so close to them. See i. 24. "Thou  hast chosen," ii. 47. "The Lord  added." See iii. 16, ix. 17. Wonderful how close and real His presence. So now, also, if only we had faith to see and feel it.

People sometimes ask, "Shall we know one another after death?" They say, "Bible does not tell." Is that so? Our Lord at Transfiguration was in the glorified body, yet Apostles recognised Him. So now after resurrection. There was a change—wonderful—puzzling; but they recognised Him, the same loving Lord, so good to Peter and the Magdalene, and all of them, just as He used to be. So when we meet those gone before, we may be startled at glory and beauty, but shall recognise manner and turn of expression, and shall recognise the real self of him or her whom we loved. "Wherefore, comfort one another with these words."

Is the Church that Kingdom of God? It is at least the poor human attempt at it. Like a sculptor trying to express his beautiful idea in some rough, coarse stone, so our Lord with His beautiful idea planted in humanity.

See how stupid they were about it. What did they ask? (v.  6). Thought He only meant a little Kingdom in Israel, with rulers, and soldiers, and weapons. Did He? What did He mean? Wonderful how He could ever risk His "Kingdom of God" with such stupid men. Why could He? Because He was to be with them, was sending the Holy Ghost to guide them.

After this, gathered together, waiting for the promise. Was the Lord present even after Ascension? Is He now? How were they occupied while waiting? (v.  14). Praying for what, think you? Were they expecting answer to prayer? Do you always?

Who were chief members? Notice last mention in Scripture of the Blessed Virgin. Was she worshipped or prayed to, or called Queen of Heaven, or Refuge of Sinners, as she is sometimes now? No. Just a simple, humble disciple, like the others, waiting for the gift promised by her Lord and her God. (In Roman Catholic districts emphasise this.)

LESSON—You have been enlisted as members of that Kingdom of God. When? Can you refuse to serve in Christ's army? To help out that lovely ideal of the Kingdom of God, on which His heart was set—a kingdom of purity, love, courage, self-sacrifice? But do you think you ought  to refuse? Is He present in that kingdom on earth? See how Apostles felt His presence then? (v.  24). "Thou  hast chosen." How they felt His eye and hand about them! Ashamed to be careless and disloyal. So should we now? (Try to bring home to children the nearness of Christ, His longing after His ideal Kingdom of God on earth, the way in which each can help that ideal in common daily life.)