# Der Lutheraner_Frankfurt am Main_Mai 1949_S59
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Number 5                              May 1949                              Page 59

For our younger readers

The Ascension of the Lord

Who among you has ever stood on a mountain, looked into the blue sky, and seen a light, white little cloud? So it must also have been at that time, when the Lord Jesus stood with his disciples for the last time on the Mount of Olives and

[Image: coat of arms with cross and the inscription "Ascension" and "May"]

ascended into heaven. That was a beautiful and difficult day for the disciples. Since Easter they had been allowed to be together with their Lord for forty days and to talk and eat with him. That was a truly joyful time. They were allowed to learn that Jesus had really risen and was living among them.

Now came the last day, on which the Lord Jesus wanted to be together with his disciples once more and take his leave of them. For he had to return to his Father in heaven, from whom he had once come at Christmas as a small child. Jesus had done on earth for us human beings everything that his heavenly Father had commanded him. The Lord Jesus had received power over heaven and earth and was now permitted, as King, to return into the glory of heaven.

But before he departed from the earth, he gave his disciples a great task. They were to pass on to people in all the world, exactly as he had told and revealed it to them, everything that Jesus had said about the kingdom of heaven. For the disciples had indeed been present when the Lord Jesus healed the sick, when he preached and raised the dead. They knew of his death on the cross and his resurrection.

And because the Lord Jesus was now no longer visibly walking among his disciples, he comforted them. They were to receive something for the difficult work that would give them strength. For without the Lord Jesus the disciples cannot work properly at all.

Therefore he promised them a gift and said: "...you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit." That is: I will send you a Comforter, who will be with you until I come again to the earth. He shall always comfort you when you are sad; and he shall give you strength, so that you can do the work for me on earth and pass on my word to people rightly, just as I have said it. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus had said all this to his disciples, he blessed them and ascended into heaven. A cloud enveloped him, and he vanished from their sight. The disciples stood there a long time and gazed after him. Now they were alone, without their Master.

But the Lord Jesus immediately sent them two messengers from heaven, men in white garments, who said to the disciples: "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come again, just as you have seen him go into heaven."

That was a joyful word for the disciples, that Jesus would one day come again. Now they were no longer sad. They also called to mind the word of the Lord: "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world." The disciples then went to Jerusalem and waited there ten days for the gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised them. What must they have talked about with one another in those days! They must all have looked forward to the work for the Lord Jesus. First they taught the people in Jerusalem, later the Apostle Paul went to Greece and Italy, and ever further the Word of God was spread throughout the world, down to the present day.

Our picture on the church-year clock you will understand at once. It depicts the mountain, and the cross is the Lord Jesus, ascending to his Father in heaven. Ursel Richter

For Mother's Day

"You shall honor your father and your mother, that it may go well with you and you may live long on earth." So reads the fourth commandment, which we have all learned in the catechism together with its explanation. Have you ever considered why God gave you your parents? We are to honor father and mother and thank them for everything we have received from them and continue to receive anew every day. So there ought really to be a "parents' day," shouldn't there? But don't you also think that you owe your mother special thanks every day, and that she deserves that once a year we especially think of her and give her joy?

Every time spring has come into the land and it grows warmer and new life enters into nature, we celebrate Mother's Day. This immediately reminds you that your mother also gave you life. In her presence you were always secure. From early on she cared for you. Under her guidance you were permitted to take your first steps into life. When a little bird flies alone out of the nest for the first time and still moves uncertainly in the air, the mother bird sits anxiously at the edge of the nest and watches the little one, so as to be able to help at once if something happens to it. Have you ever observed that? So too your mother cares for you and wants to stand by you in danger. When you have sorrow, your mother opens her wide heart and always has a comforting word for you. So it goes, year in, year out. And when you have grown old, you will still feel the love and faithfulness of your mother.

For all this you may thank your mother on Mother's Day. But we have forgotten something. It is the greatest and most beautiful thing for which you have to thank your mother. Your mother was surely the first who told you about the Lord Jesus, who also called the children to himself, so that they should love him and believe in him. Your mother first taught you to pray. She showed you how to fold your hands; and from her mouth you heard of the angels whom God sends to protect you. Therefore, if you love the Lord Jesus, then do not forget on Mother's Day also to thank God for giving you a mother who can show you the way to the Lord Jesus and thus the way to heaven. Only when one believes in the Lord Jesus and lets oneself be blessed by his love can one rightly fulfill the fourth commandment and also love one's parents from the heart.

So on Mother's Day also ask God that he may keep your mother in good health and alive for a long time yet, and that you may always be sincerely thankful to him for her.

And so that your father does not come up short on the day of honor for the mother, he will surely be glad to help you give your mother joy, because he loves your mother too. Horst Schneider

Biblical Questions for Youth Gatherings

I.

Who spoke the following words, on what occasion, and for what purpose?

1. Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked?

2. Command that these stones become bread!

3. I saw come up out of the water seven fine fat cows.

4. Are you the one who is to come?

5. Hail, Rabbi!

6. I will sing to the Lord, for he has done a glorious deed.

7. His blood be on us and on our children!

8. Our clothes and shoes have become old because of the very long journey.

9. You will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this comes to pass.

10. Truly, this man was the Son of God.

11. Where you go, I will go!

12. Lord, help us, we are perishing!

13. Woman, I do not know him!

14. Divide the living child in two!

15. To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!

16. How long will you go limping between two opinions?

17. What is truth?

18. Your servant did not go anywhere, here or there.

19. I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

20. The Lord has given; the Lord has taken away!

21. Paul, you are raving mad; your great learning is driving you mad!

22. Let us see who the god is who will deliver you out of my hand!

23. Take me and throw me into the sea, so the sea will become calm!

24. If I have defrauded anyone, I will restore it fourfold.

25. What must I do to be saved?

Should none of those present be able to find the right answers, the Bible chapters given below for each question will provide the information.

1.) Gen. 18; 2.) Matt. 4; 3.) Gen. 41;
4.) Matt. 11; 5.) Matt. 26; 6.) Exod. 15;
7.) Matt. 27; 8.) Josh. 9; 9.) Luke 1;
10.) Mark 15; 11.) Ruth 1; 12.) Matt. 8;
13.) Luke 22; 14.) 1 Kings 3; 15.) John 6;
16.) 1 Kings 18; 17.) John 18; 18.) 2 Kings 5;
19.) Acts 7; 20.) Job 1; 21.) Acts 26;
22.) Dan. 3; 23.) Jonah 1; 24.) Luke 19;
25.) Acts 16.

II.

Which Christian doctrines of faith are proven from the following scripture passages? Look them up and see whether you find the right answer!

1.) 2 Corinthians 13:13; 2.) Matthew 1:21; 3.) 1 John 2:1–2;
4.) Romans 13:2; 5.) 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 6.) Psalm 143:2;
7.) 2 Corinthians 5:21; 8.) Psalm 118:8; 9.) Proverbs 31:8–9;
10.) 2 Peter 3:10; 11.) Isaiah 55:10; 12.) Isaiah 42:3;
13.) 1 Peter 5:7; 14.) Jeremiah 23:23–24; 15.) Psalm 26:6–8.

If you have difficulties and are not sure whether you have found the right answer, take your catechism and look up the passages indicated below