kayleearafinwiel | Leap Day (B2MEM eve), Middle Earth calendars, Lent #4

So today is February 29, Leap Day to our modern calendar. It seems in Tolkien's world different cultures had different ways of dealing with the every-four-years discrepancy. I like the Shire's: they had 30 days to the month, every month, for twelve months. New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Midsummer and the two days on either side of it were "outside" any month. So when did they get their Leap Day? It was basically Midsummer, take 2. It wasn't in Solmath (their February-equivalent, though more like 22 January-20 February to us) which already had 30 days every year. I think the Shire calendar would be fun to use if we ever have a need to switch around...

Anyway, it's also the last day of February, which means March starts tomorrow, which means B2MEM starts tomorrow. Actually, since it starts at 12AM UTC, it's 4PM today for me when it starts...Well, we'll see when I get the prompt! I'm so excited!!! Are you excited, Tolkien friends??

All right, now that I've got all that off my chest, let's talk about Lent (if you want to, if not, that's why this part is under the cut :) )

My devotional today is basked on Matthew 4:1-11, and Luke 4:1-13.

The Temptation of Jesus.

Satan told Jesus to command stones to become bread. He could do this if He wanted to, of course. But He ignored Satan, and said "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."

I've heard this verse before of course, but never really given it as much thought as it deserves...I hope to change that.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the Temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

"He will command his angels concerning you," and "On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."

Okay I just need to process this. Satan just took Jesus to probably the highest place around and put him on top of the tallest building, and told Him to jump off because "if" he was the Son of God he would be caught by angels.

Dude. Seriously? You KNOW He's the Son of God! As if he didn't know that...Come on.

So then Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain (which one?? We need specifics, people!) and "showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."

Okay so that's got to be a VERY high mountain. All the kingdoms? Come on now.
Although I suppose there weren't very many kingdoms in those days yet...
And then Satan says "All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me."

How about, uh, NO. And Jesus illustrates that point all right. XD because He says, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

"You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." "

Yeah, that's a major "I'm done with you" if I ever heard one. *huge grin*

And Satan just backs off. He leaves. He lets Jesus alone and angels show up and take care of Him.

So these things occur in this order in the Matthew verses, but in Luke, the second and third incidents are switched. I wonder why that is? Something to ponder.

Anyway, I'm glad that the angels came and took care of Jesus, because not eating for 40 days can't have been pleasant in any case. I'm not sure I understand all the whys of it yet, but that's part of what this Lent journey is for, I'm sure.

During B2MEM I will make my Lent posts separate from my fic-related ones. Thank you to those who are reading my posts!