Tag Archives: ascension

Betwixt and Between

betwixt and between

What did you do during “Betwixtmas,” the week between Christmas and New Year’s? Many were off work and some stores had limited hours or were closed. It seemed like a time when everyone took a break, relaxed, slept in, watched TV or movies, enjoyed Christmas gifts, gathered with friends and family and/or visited certain attractions or events.

As Christians, we are actually always living in a betwixt time: the time between the ascension of Jesus and his return on the Last Day. So what do we do with this time on a grander scale? We can look to what we did during “Betwixtmas” for some guidance. While sleep is important for many in the days after Christmas, our greater betwixt time as Christians should be more about staying awake and keeping watch for the Second Coming of Christ. Just as we enjoy our Christmas presents between Christmas and New Year’s, we should enjoy and use the gifts our God has given us of time, talents and treasure as we wait for the return of God’s Son. We should also continue to regularly gather with friends and family in the faith in this extended time between Christ’s going and coming. Engaging in activities that reflect that we know that Christ is on his way to take us back with him to heaven energizes and renews us in ways that selfish endeavors do not. Let your actions point the way to Jesus and his love. Look up to him, look out for sin, and look forward to the future with great joy, betwixt and between everything in life.

Overcoming Temptation

overcoming temptation

In the article “Three Tests in the Wilderness,” in the March 2019 issue of Living Lutheran, author Brian Hiortdahl reviews for us the three temptations that Satan tried to entice Jesus with during his 40 days in the wilderness. The temptations were:

  1. To turn stone to bread.
  2. To throw himself from a high place to be rescued by angels
  3. To gain power over all the kingdoms of the earth by bowing to Satan

Each of these temptations Jesus resists and overcomes, using Scripture and declaring that God should not be put to the test.

Hiortdal reveals that Jesus overcame each of temptations in a much greater way in the last days of his life.

  1. Jesus turns his body into bread for those with hearts of stone on Maundy Thursday.
  2. Jesus is thrown down on the cross on Good Friday, but rises from the dead on Easter.
  3. Jesus ascends to absolute power when he returns to his rightful throne in heaven on Ascension Day.

Because Jesus ultimately overcame these temptations in this way, we, too, have the ultimate power to overcome every temptation the devil sends our way.

Pivotal Questions

pivotal questionsI was wondering recently about how pivotal questions are often asked at significant moments in the story of salvation. Why is that? Consider these:

At the empty tomb on Easter morning, the angels ask the women: ““Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:6).

When the risen Jesus appears to the disciple in the upper room, he asks, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” (Luke 24:38)

After Jesus has ascended, two angels ask the disciples, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

These seem like basic questions, but they actually get to the heart of what is going on. Those to whom the questions are asked are experiencing confusion. But each question is designed to bring them comfort.

In the Easter quote, the women were sure that Jesus was dead, but the question reveals the good news that Jesus is alive.

In the upper room quote, the disciples were undoubtedly afraid by the sudden appearance of Jesus, but Christ’s question to them assures them that they do not need to be afraid at all.

Continue reading →