SERMONS
After celebrating the Feast of the Ascension, we now approach the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost occurs fifty days after the Resurrection. This feast signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by our Lord in John 14:15-31.
The Feast of Ascension is the fortieth day after Resurrection Sunday, commemorating the Ascension of Christ into heaven, according to Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:2. The word Ascension in Greek (analeptics) means, “lifting up.” It is the event that signifies Christ ascending to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father in power and glory, completing the plan of salvation.
The Gospels records that when our Savior Jesus Christ was born there was no room for Him at the inn. (Luke 2:7) When Christ was of age He entered the synagogue in Nazareth and proclaimed through the scriptures that He was the messiah, upon hearing this the Jews threw Him out of their town. (Luke 4:16-29) Throughout Christ’s ministry on earth, He was traveling—preaching, teaching and performing miracles—but He never had a place to call His own.
Life is a journey filled with “life-changing” moments that define who we are. In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 24, two men, Cleopas and another disciple, are walking from a small town called Emmaus to the city of Jerusalem. On their journey they begin to chitchat about their master, Jesus, and all that had happened to him—His trial, passion, death and burial.
In Mark 8:31, Jesus harshly rebukes Peter and calls him “satan,” for attempting to change His mind about His passion and crucifixion. In the night of the Last Supper, Jesus told His Apostles that He would be betrayed and that none of them would stand by Him in His last hour. Peter told Jesus he would stand by Him and defend Him.
