The Ascension as told in the New Testament is an arresting story. It is entirely associated with the Master, and is supposed to describe the manner of His farewell to the Earth and flight to the Heavens. Its interpretation has not been easy even for the best scholars, exegetes and expositors. The passage of the Master through the Celestial Heavens is not the only difficulty to be overcome; for in addition there are the three accounts of the Ascension, and these are amazingly contradictory. In each of the statements there would be the same Celestial problem; for in an Ascension through the various atmospheres which mantle the Earth, it would not make any difference whether the Ascension took place from a high hill in Galilee or from Bethany, or from the Mount of Olives. But the Ascension of the Master could not have taken place from the three geographical situations at the same time. Nor was He likely to have made any display of such a spectacular order, giving to the mind of the disciples an entirely outward interpretation of facts which to Him were absolutely spiritual and Soulic, and had no relation whatever to a transit from the Earth to the Solar Body, or to another Celestial system.

The Ascension was a spiritual fact. It was a Divine experience. It took place amidst Æthereal Atmospheres. It had three great degrees. Its way lay through the Galilean Porch upon an exceedingly high hill; by way of Bethany, the House of Mary and Martha where the LORD loved to visit; and from the summit of Olivet.

It was a spiritual fact for it was an ascension of the whole Being in state. It relates to the experience of every Soul who passes into the higher and more inward Kingdoms. For all who share the Body of the LORD through the realization of the Presence, do so by the Divine process, dynamic and empirical, of the elevation of all the bodies, from the Soul or higher Ætheric, to the outer body. In such an experience the Soul transcends the Earth. It takes its flight through the Earth’s Atmospheres, rising far above them in state of Life and Consciousness, till it enters the Atmospheres of the Celestial Kingdoms. That is the first great Degree of the Soul's Ascension. It is the Degree of the Eternal Love.

In taking its second great Degree, it passes through the Portals of the Home at Bethany. It is the Home of Divine Wisdom where the Soul, Maria, learns the Mystery of her LORD as she sits at His feet; and as Martha, learns how truly to serve HIM. For when it is said that “He led them as far as Bethany and was parted from them”, it is not the LORD who leaves the Soul in the House of Wisdom and Service, but it is the LORD in the Soul who parts the Being from its undue attachments to the merely individual relationship in the House of Wisdom to HIMSELF, and the personal character of the Soul’s service. He parts the Soul even in such a state as the Degree implies, from all the bondage of merely individual relationship and personal devotion, and bears it up and into the Atmospheres which pervade the Divine Heavens. And thus it rises beyond the House of the Divine Wisdom as a Divine Centre of learning and acquisition, and enters into the House of the LORD. It is the second great Degree. Here Wisdom is realized.

But the Degrees of the Divine Love and Wisdom through the Soul’s Ascension from Galilee and Bethany, lead to that other Ascension which is associated with Olivet. To take the Celestial degree and ascend into the realms of the Gods through the realization of the Divine Love in sublime fulness, prepares the Soul to receive with true understanding the Mystery of the Divine Wisdom, and together, these Degrees empower the Soul to take the next Degree wherein the Love and Wisdom become so united in the Being that that Ascension is taken and accomplished in which the supreme Sacrifice of Being itself is made unto the LORD. In that Ascension Nirvana is reached. The Soul becomes one with the LORD. And it is thus so unified in Love and the realization of the Wisdom and Spirit of the LORD, that it is henceforth the vehicle absolutely for manifestation and sacrificial service. Whatever sacrifice the LORD of Being purposes, the Soul seeks full share in it. In the measure of its capacity it gives as the LORD gives.

The Ascension from Olivet is into the Divine Kingdom of Sacrifice. Here Love and Wisdom are revealed in their perfection as the Soul moves, serves, and gives supremely. It is the Degree of the Son of GOD.

From The Mystery of the Light Within Us by John Todd Ferrier, pp 45-47.
© The Order of the Cross.

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