Sermon Advent 1C
December 1, 2024
Luke 19:28-40
John E. Wackler
Grace, mercy, and peace are yours from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A while back, I anticipated going to a concert for about two months. I bought tickets as soon as they were available. And then I got busy and it went to the back of my mind until a couple weeks before. And then the anticipation really built. Would they be as good as I though? Yes, they were. They even exceeded expectations. I really didn't want it to end.
WE JOYOUSLY ANTICIPATE THE SAVIOR FROM SIN
WHO ARRIVES AS A HUMBLE SERVANT KING
Right now, we are all anticipating Christmas. Decorations are out. Christmas music is already being played constantly. Shopping and planning for gatherings are underway or complete. Even though we eagerly anticipate Christmas, and enjoy it when it comes, the season is hectic, and often stressful for many people. There is also the possibility that we may become disillusioned with the frantic pace and commercialization of the Christmas Season.
So, in the hustle and bustle, let's not forget about Advent. We'll have Wednesday night sanctuaries from the hubbub. Let's enjoy this first season of the church year for what it really is, the joyful anticipation of the coming of the Savior from sin, Jesus of Nazareth.
God's people of Old had been anticipating the coming of Messiah for several thousand years. There was only a handful of people faithfully waiting. It had been a long time. Would the Savior even come? The prophets foretold, and Israel had not been waiting very patiently. They had been seeking false gods and gave and a babe born in a manger was not even on their radar.
The truth is, the Israelites had the word of God about the Savior to come, even though they were impatient. Listen to God's Word from Jeremiah in our OT reading for today, “I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah and Jerusalem will dwell securely.”
Jeremiah is telling us what the Savior would come to do, and what the result of his work would be. The righteous branch is Jesus. Jesus established justice and righteousness by willingly going to the cross to give himself into death for the sins of the world. Justice, punishment for sin, was placed on Jesus instead of on us.
The Gospel for this First Sunday in Advent is the account of an event that happened just one week before Easter. It may seem strange that we're reading about this event during Advent instead of Easter. What is this account saying to us about Advent? How do we seek real sanctuary during the mad rush that has become the world's Christmas season.
WE JOYOUSLY ANTICIPATE THE SAVIOR FROM SIN
WHO ARRIVES AS A HUMBLE SERVANT KING
We have to really concentrate hard to stay focused on Advent, and repentance, when the world around us has already rushed headlong into Christmas. The world will miss most of the preparation that the church tries to provide, as we anticipate the coming of the Christ child, and as we wait for the celebration of the birth of the Savior. We also need to be careful not to allow the crass commercialization of the Christmas season to rob it of it's holiness. Maybe you can identify with that possibility. Is there time to reflect and ponder the true wonder of this Advent season?
Advent takes us back to the Old Testament - the time before our savior was born. God's faithful people yearned for deliverance from the oppressive slavery of sin. They knew spiritual darkness and the shadow of death as they waited for Messiah - the savior. He would carry them out of the valley of the shadow of death and despair. (Our sermon hymn places us in unity with our fellow believers of the OT when we sang with them, "O come, O come Immanuel and ransom captive Israel.")
Advent shines the light of Christ into the darkness of our human sinfulness and despair. It causes the excited anticipation of rescue from sin, death, and Satan. Let it also remind us, like Lent does, that the shedding of blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sins.
Advent points us to the perfect Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus. It reminds us that all the OT sacrifices pointed to the once for all sacrifice of Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, for sin. We reflect on the fact that we desperately need God to come into this world to rescue us. We repent of our sins in anticipation of the deliverance guaranteed to Adam and Eve with the promise of a Savior, continued with the birth of the King of Kings in Bethlehem, finished at Calvary, and the empty tomb in Joseph's garden.
The Son of God became the Son of Man in order to save us from our sin. His love for us sinners placed Jesus in the manger and that same love sent Jesus to the cross. His immaculate conception and miraculous birth in human flesh were the first historic steps on the road to that cross. His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem started his final journey towards the ultimate purpose for his coming.
WE JOYOUSLY ANTICIPATE THE SAVIOR FROM SIN
WHO ARRIVES AS A HUMBLE SERVANT KING
To sinful people, waiting can be a real pain in the neck. If waiting goes on too long, we might lose interest and move on. We want what we want and we want it now! It's hard to patiently wait, even when we know the end result is going to be good, even great. Remember this though, everything happens in God's own timing. We can relax, and wait patiently, trusting that God's promise will be fulfilled. We can receive the holiness and preparation of Advent, while anticipating Christmas with abiding joy.
In the Gospel reading, the Pharisees did not like the people praising Jesus as they were doing. They demanded of Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Nothing will stop Jesus from completing his work. And nothing will stop his believers from praising Him. Life will enter stones and they will cry out. Nothing would stand in the way of Jesus preaching, and teaching and speaking the truth about sinful man, and about himself during the upcoming week.
The timeless historical account of the shepherds in the fields, and the angels singing “Glory to God in the Highest” has endured among us even though many enemies of Christ have declared this truth to be a fable, a myth. There is open hostility towards the magnificent story of redemption, and towards those who believe God's Word and trust in Jesus.
Nothing will stand in the way of the Truth of Jesus. The Word of God will endure against all foes. The Word of God concerning your Savior Jesus, is universal truth. It is something very specific, and it does something very specific. It creates saving faith as it is heard, believed, trusted.
We do anticipate Christmas with great joy. We also anticipate the second time Jesus will come with just the same amount of joy and even greater peace. The “finer day” that we seek after is guaranteed to us through faith in Him who came in the glory of the Lord, was crucified, died, rose from the dead, and lives forever. This is God's certain promise to us. Most of His promise has been fulfilled. The rest will be fulfilled. Anticipate, Rejoice, Your Savior Comes. Amen.
The peace that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.