GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue18
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble
knees;And make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame
be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
THE CAPTIVATOR//
/Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou
hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the
LORD God might dwell among them. Psalm 68:18/
Few events which occurred in the life of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as
HE sojourned in this Earth, were any more startling to HIS
disciples, than HIS ascension back into the heavens, from whence HE
came. They had traveled and conversed with HIM for approximately
three years.In that time, they had seen HIM turn water into wine,
heal cripples and lepers, give sight to the blind and cause the deaf
to hear.They had stood outside of a tomb in which Lazarus’s
putrefying body lay and seen him come forth from that sepulcherat
the command of the LORD, still wrapped in grave clothes, but
completely and wonderfully alive.They had seen HIM command the winds
and waves to cease their roaring and heard HIM completely confound
the wisest and (in their minds) most holy men who sought to confound
HIM.Not to mention, feeding thousands of people with a few loaves
and fishes and gathering more food that was left over than when they
began.
They had beheld HIM taken into captivity by the very men who sought
to confound HIM but were confounded on every occasion.They saw HIM
beaten, crucified and slain by their wicked hands.They had sulked
away in disappointment, grief, fear, and no doubt, shame.All that
they had expected to occur now seemed like a mere pipe dream and
their hopes for the establishment of an Earthly kingdom now faded
from view.I am sure they probably second guessed their commitment to
follow this PROPHET who they viewed as their DELIVERER from the
oppression of the Romans. Frustration is probably an apt and yet,
inadequate description of their state of mind.
These apostles were both astonished and frightened as they were told
by the women that HIS body was no longer in the tomb. “/And their
words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.”
(Luke 24:11/) Filled with curiosity, both John and Peter both rushed
to see if this report was possibly true.Peter, being his bold and
impetuous self, rushed into the burial chamber where HIS body had
lain and believed that indeed HE had been taken away. “/Then arose
Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the
linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, _wondering in
himself at that which was come to pass_.”(Luke 24:12/)I find it very
interesting that the LORD appeared to Peter (at some point in time)
revealing HIMSELF as risen from the dead before HE did to any of the
other apostles.This was recounted by the travelers on the road to
Emmaus as they reported having supped with HIM. “/Saying, The Lord
is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24:34)/Paul also
mentions this, “/he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.” (1Cor
15:5)/This same Peter who had denied knowing HIM with an oath.This
same Peter whom the angel instructed the women to specifically
inform. /“But go your way, tell his disciples _and Peter_ that he
goeth before you into Galilee.” (Mark 16:7/) Here the mercy and
grace of our LORD towards unworthy sinners upon whom HE has set HIS
eternal love is demonstrated. HIS ways are past finding out.
They were astounded when HE appeared in their midst in the upper
room with the doors having been locked.Thomas, being absent, heard
their report yet believed it not.Oh, how humbled he was by the same
mercy and grace as the LORD appeared to them once again while he was
present and invited him to touch HIS hands and side.The LORD will
make HIS people willing in the day of HIS power and will seek and
save that which is lost.Be not faithless but believing.Thus, once
again HE was with HIS disciples from time to time over a forty-day
period after HIS resurrection.No doubt they were greatly comforted,
yet still somewhat perplexed, as they wondered about how HE would
establish HIS Kingdom in the Earth./“Lord, wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Act 1:6)/HE told them that
the coming of HIS Kingdom “_with power_” would be seen, soon, as
they were instructed to wait at Jerusalem.“/But _ye shall receive
power_, after that _the Holy Ghost is come_ upon you: and _ye shall
be witnesses_ unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8/)
Imagine with me their utter astonishment and complete amazement as
HE immediately removed HIMSELF from their midst and ascended into
Heaven.They could do nothing but stand with mouths agape, gazing
into the heavens.They were startled back to reality, when the Angel
spoke asking them why they were staring at the clouds, when they had
been given a command and the assurance that if HE went away HE would
come again.“/Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, _shall so
come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven._”(Acts
1:11/)In essence he told them to quit daydreaming and be about the
business which HE commissioned them to do.
We read that in HIS ascension, “/HE led captivity captive/”.There
are several ways in which we might look at the import of this
statement.Not the least of which is the obvious description of HIS
utter and complete triumph over all of HIS enemies.HIS enemies are
HIS people’s enemies and HE would never leave nor forsake those whom
HE has loved with an everlasting love.It is for HIS people that HE
came into the world to accomplish redemption.In order to do so HE
entered into battle with the condemnation of the Law as well as the
powers of darkness which had completely enveloped those who were _by
nature_ the children of wrath even as others.Yet HE would not give
them over to a reprobate mind but would enter into a great conflict
of blood and death in their behalf.
When we read HIS answer to the question posed in Isaiah’s prophecy,
“/Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him
that treadeth in the winefat?”(Isa 63:2/), we see that HE was
stained with HIS own blood for the remission of HIS people’s sin,
(without the shedding of blood there is no remission), and that of
HIS enemies as well. “/I have trodden the winepress alone; and of
the people there was none with me: for _I will tread them in mine
anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be
sprinkled upon my garments_, and I will stain all my raiment.” (Isa
63:3/)
We see that HE has “led captivity captive”, as HE has set HIS people
free from the curse of the Law which breathes out slaughter to all
who are under it. “/For the wages of sin is death/.”Paul declares
the freedom of GOD’s people from this Law of sin and death, which
had them bound in chains of captivity, when he says, /“There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the _law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free_ from the law of
sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2)/None can be justified nor sanctified by
the Law.“/the Law is not of FAITH/.”“Free from the law, oh happy
condition, JESUS hath died and there is remission.” The captives are
captivated by the CAPTIVATOR.
HE has /“led captivity captive/” as HE does call HIS people from
darkness to LIGHT. This is the message that Peter boldly proclaimed
on the Day of Pentecost./“For 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_.” (Acts 2:39)/In _every generation_ HE has
raised up HIS people to declare HIS mighty works as the SAVIOR of
sinners._In every land_, HE has a witness unto the glory of HIS
redemption.They all share in the common FAITH which is begun as they
are called from darkness to LIGHT by the work of HIS SPIRIT in
them./“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2Cor 4:6/)
HE has ascended on high, where HE ever lives to make intercession
for HIS people.It is from this high and lofty throne that HE bestows
HIS favor upon HIS elect bride.Giving her gifts that edify her and
bring glory to HIS name. /“And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For
the perfecting of the saints, _for _/_(i.e.unto)_/_the work of the
ministry_//, for _the edifying of the body of Christ_: Till we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-13/) Have you tasted of the grace of
the CAPTIVATOR?mam
