To be near unto God - pagina 563

and wooed him. yet he tarried.

The crown awaited him.

He

still

But

remained in the sphere

of this world. Not because it attracted him. On the contrary, between the risen Savior and the world, which was still submerged in misery, every tie of connection was severed. With respect to this world he had ceased to dwell in its midst. He had died unto this world, and his resurrection had not restored him unto it, but only to the circle of his saints.

And

so there was something anti-natural

on earth. He no longer belonged to it. He had become estranged from it and it from him. Even though he still tarried in it, the world would see him no more. He would still be in it, but out of all connection with it, no longer belonging to it, but to an higher sphere, into which he had actually entered for

him

in this forty days tarrying

by his resurrection. But Jesus loved parting wuth them

his

disciples.

The touching

Gethsemane, the parting with Peter in the court room, the parting with John on Golgotha, could not be final. Not the world, but they must see him after his resurrection. They must be initiated into their new relaRegenerated in his resurrection to their Lord. tion itself they must receive the apostolic anointThey must be prepared for the transition ing. into the new relation, when they would be alone on earth and their Master in heaven. And for this purpose Jesus had brought this last sacrifice, that he did not ascend to heaven immediately after his resurrection, but only weeks afterward, in

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