The fortieth day after the resurrection of our Lord was at hand. The eleven Apostles were at Jerusalem. They were just sitting at a meal when Jesus came to them. And now that they were able rightly to understand it, He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed them that had seen Him after He was risen. It is well for us to know the perverseness of our heart; and we never know it more fully than just when we are certain of our sonship with God through faith. Thus we are then impelled always to trust in Jesus only, and never in ourselves.- Then the Lord repeated the command concerning the conduct of their apostolic office which He had previously entrusted to them by saying: "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." And the Lord invested this office with supreme authority: "He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned." Nor can it be otherwise. Only in Christ is there salvation. He that believes in Him is saved; he that rejects Him is damned. And then the Lord equipped His Apostles and their fellow-disciples with the power to perform miracles, in order to confirm their preaching: "And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." And then - but that we shall hear on the festival of the Ascension.- O Christian, dear Christian, stay in the faith in Your Saviour, who has died and is risen for your sake. But do not rely on your own strength or constancy. For your heart is a frail heart. Seek the strength and help of Jesus. He gives it to you through His Word.