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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
April, 1938
A round the King's Tab le
By PAUL W. ROOD
The Resurrection Ministry of Christ
kingdom as this ultimately would be set up, as some men tell us they were, why did not the Lord Jesus correct their misapprehen sion? The very fact that He did not tell them they were wrong in their expectancy is an argument for the correctness of their conception of a literal kingdom with Christ as the world ruler. Moreover, we are not shut up to this argument for our belief in the coming kingdom, for there are numer ous other statements from Holy W rit that could be presented as corroborative proof. Christ also taught the disciples that their work in this world was the ministry of witnessing. He declared plainly: “ Ye shall be witnesses unto me” (v. 8). A witness is one who tells what he has seen and heard. A Christian is one who has had a vision of Christ as the “ Lamb of God” and as the “ author and finisher of our faith,” and who has heard the voice of the Lord saying, “ Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Consequently, having heard and responded and partaken of salvation personally, he is competent to serve as a witness, and is able to tell others of this wonderful Saviour who can save and satisfy. Every Christian is called to be a witness, and we are to witness in every place. The world would be evangelized quickly, if all Christians would recognize their responsi bility to represent Christ, and would tell others about Him. He who is a witness must have a vision of the field, and must recognize that he is a world missionary. His body may be in “Jerusalem,” and he must witness there by word of mouth, but through his pen, purse, and prayer, he must go unto “ the uttermost part of the earth” (v. 8). In order that he may be an effective wit ness, the Christian must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said: “ Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” These words were among the last words spoken by Christ before He left this world, and that fact should indicate their great im portance. The resurrected Christ wanted empowered witnesses— and He still seeks for them. The spiritual conflict is diffi cult, the opposition is powerful, and the resistance and inertia of men are impos sible to overcome with human strength. Therefore, we need and must have the power of the Holy Ghost. The living Christ is ready to equip us to be soul-win ners if we will recognize His Lordship and surrender our lives to His control. Thereby the resurrection ministry of Christ will continue through our yielded per sonalities.
Jenny Lind’s Conversion . While conducting a union campaign in Brooklyn, N. Y., recently, the writer was reminded of the conversion of the world- renowned Swedish opera singer of the last century, Jenny Lind. The recalling of the facts surrounding the conversion of this sweet singer brought spiritual refreshing to him and to others, and are set forth here in order to extend the range of their use fulness. The witness who was used of the Lord to win Jenny Lind for Christ was the founder of Swedish Methodism in Amer ica, Pastor Olaf Hedstrom. He carried on an active soul-winning campaign among the Scandinavians in New York. His work was centered in a boat called “ Bethel,” where services were conducted and where personal work was done every day. No visitor ever came to Pastor Hedstrom’s office without being questioned about his personal relationship to the Lord. This Bible- taught servant of Christ believed that the natural man was lost and on his way to hell. He believed that every human be ing needed salvation and must come to Christ and accept Him as a personal Saviour in order to get to heaven. The atoning death of Christ was to him the only hope of lost man. Hedstrom had been profoundly stirred by his vision of Christ on the cross and by his God-given vision of the lost condition of the human race. Therefore he dealt conscientiously and earnestly with every one that crossed his path. Jenny Lind came to New York in 1851, at the height of her fame and influence in the musical world. During this .visit she attended a service on the ship “Bethel” and heard Pastor Hedstrom preach. At the conclusion of the service, she went into the pastor’s study where this man of God talked with her faithfully about her need of sal-i vation. Soon they were kneeling, and Jenny Lind wept and called on the name of the Lord and was gloriously saved. It is recorded that Hedstrom in his prayer had called on the Lord to save her from the wrath to come. Clearly, he did not mince matters in dealing with her, but pro claimed the very truth of God without wavering. Pastor Hedstrom received several letters from Jenny Lind in which she expressed her appreciation for the spiritual help he had given her, and assured him that she would never appear in the theater again. Jenny Lind’s decision to leave the operatic stage created a sensation, and much bitter ness was expressed against religion and
“ T o whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speak ing of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). • The ministry of Christ during the forty days between His resurrection and ascen sion is a theme that has not received the attention it deserves on the part of Bible students. In this body of truth there is a field for some one who wishes to write his doctor’s thesis on a subject that has not been adequately treated as yet. If this suggestion will stimulate some one to un dertake this inspiring task, this editorial would not have been written in vain. But of even greater importance, so far as the individual reader is concerned, is the deep ening of his own spiritual life, following a study of this neglected field. Christ rosç from the dead and revealed Himself to His disciples. Those who saw Him were so greatly impressed that their lives were revolutionized by this fellow ship with the risen Lord. Men who had been cowardly and afraid became bold, even to the point of being willing to suffer martyrdom for Christ. The resurrection was the dominant theme in their preaching. So stirring was their ministry that their enemies accused them of turning the world “ upside .down.” “ The kingdom of God” was the theme of Christ’s ministry during the forty days of post-resurrection teaching. During that period, undoubtedly He expounded the Old Testament, as He did to the Emmaus dis ciples of whose walk with Him we read: “ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning him self” (Lk. 24:27). “The kingdom of God” is an inclusive term. It embraces all that God rules. It is mentioned in the Bible in various aspects. One aspect will be in view in the millennium, the period of one thou sand years in which Christ shall reign in righteousness on the earth. This glorious time is prophesied and described in the Old Testament. The disciples were looking forward to this earthly reign of Christ. Therefore they asked the question: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). It is significant that our Lord did not seek to change their con ception of this kingdom. They looked for an earthly kingdom, and Christ allowed them to retain that expectancy. If they were mistaken in believing that such a
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