1. “ E. G. C.” Rotherham. We are not told that the Lord Jesus ascended in His body to heaven, until after He had been seen of His disciples forty days. (Acts 1:3, 9-113To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3)
9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, 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 1:9‑11).)
It was rather the intense love of His heart to His disciples that hastened Mary away, to tell them the wondrous news. Touch me not—do not linger—away, and tell them—so to speak—of this new relationship. “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father” &c. There is nothing, however, to disprove that He did not then present Himself to the Father, and so speak peace to the disciples direct from the throne of God. But the same love that hastened Mary with the news of His resurrection, and their new position, also lingered to convince Thomas of the truth of His true resurrection: thus, He then said, Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. The love of Christ makes both requests quite clear. Oh, what joy it was to Him to take us into everlasting relationship with Himself!
2. “J. H,” Lugar. The house, in 1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15), is the same as the house in 2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20); but, as to its condition, how greatly changed in so short a time! In the first epistle it is viewed as the dwelling-place of God—“The assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” This is what God views it to be, and what it should be. It was the assembly in order, with instructions as to its elders and deacons. But, in the Second, it is the house, all that professes the name of Christ, but in sad disorder. It would seem, the church’s failure dates specially from that year when the beloved Paul was let out of prison, and rejected by all Asia. (2 Tim. 1:13, 1813Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)
18The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. (2 Timothy 1:18).) There is no other pillar and ground of the truth but the assembly, however feebly expressed. But in this second epistle it is no longer a question of bishops and deacons, but of individual faithfulness to the truth; Timothy must hold it fast.
Now, from that day the great house, that is Christendom, has vessels to dishonor, and to such an extent, that we may not know who arc the Lord’s. This does not shake the foundation—“The Lord knoweth them that are his.” What is, then, to be the path of the Christian who is led by the Spirit and word of God? Clearly to depart from iniquity. He is to purge himself from these. It is not that he is to excommunicate others; for the corruption is so general, as described in chapter 3, that the mass of the great house is going on with evil. He must, then, purge himself—he must separate from evil. This is the great principle provided for the faithful Christian, and, however great the evil and confusion, there will be those he may find, if he looks to the Lord, “that call on the Lord out of a pure heart,” and with them he is to follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. He is to continue in the things which he has learned.
The Epistle to Titus seems to have been written at the same time as 1 Timothy, and there it is, “Set in order the things,” &c, bishops and deacons. How different the solemn charge to Timothy! Read carefully chapter 4. The most solemn charge to preach the word, individual responsibility to hold fast the word. And this was the last thing that Paul himself, after his rejection, was enabled of the Lord to do.