Whether, in this ever-memorable walk to the place of Ascension, the Adorable Redeemer visited the village of Bethany, we cannot tell. It is possible--it is _more_ than possible--He may have honoured the home of Lazarus with a farewell benediction; but this we can only conjecture. All the notice we have regarding it is: that "He led them out as far as to Bethany;" that He there lifted up His hands and blessed them; and was from thence taken up to Heaven.[38] Honoured hamlet! thus to be alone mentioned in connexion with the closing scene in this mighty drama! He selected not _Bethlehem_, where angel hosts had chanted His praise; nor _Tabor_, where celestial beings had hovered around Him in homage; nor _Calvary_, where riven rocks and bursting grave-stones had proclaimed His deity; nor the _Temple-court_, in all its sumptuous glory, where for ages His own Shekinah had blazed in mystic splendour; but He hallows afresh the name of a lowly _Village_; He consecrates a Home of love. BETHANY is the last spot which lingers on His view, as the cloud comes down and receives Him out of sight. Let us gather for a little in imagination on this sacred ground. Let us note a few of the interesting thoughts which cluster around it, and listen to the Saviour's farewell themes of converse there with His beloved disciples. (1.) He cheers their hearts with the promised baptism of the Holy Ghost.--"John," He had said, a few hours before, at His last meeting with them in Jerusalem, "truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."[39] He, moreover, enjoined them to linger in the Holy City, and wait this "promise of the Father" which "they had heard of Him;" and now, once more, when on the eve of Ascension, He speaks of the coming of the same Holy Ghost to qualify them for their future work.[40] This, we know, was the great topic of consolation with which He had often before soothed their hearts at the thought of parting. _He_ was to leave them;--but an Almighty _Paraclete_ or _Comforter_ was to take His place, whose gracious presence would more than compensate for the withdrawal of His own. For when, on the intimation of His coming departure, He observed that sorrow was filling their hearts--"It is expedient," said He, "for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."[41] Now that the anticipated hour is come, He reverts to the same omnipotent ground of comfort;--that this Divine Enlightener, Cheerer, Sanctifier, would fill up the gap His own withdrawal would make. They were about to enter on a new dispensation--the dispensation of the SPIRIT--and the approaching Pentecost was to give them a pledge and earnest of His mighty agency in the conversion of souls.