Shepherd of the Springs
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

From the O.T. of the Day: In His days, Judah will be saved." [Jeremiah 23.6a]

From the Epistle of the Day: Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. [Romans 13.11b]

From the Holy Gospel: Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey." [Matthew 21.5]

Today, on this First Sunday of Advent, we begin a new year, one which is much more deserving of our famous announcement of the day, "Happy New Year," than the day on which we normally hear these words. Today, we consider the texts associated with this day, a day that bears the name in Latin, "Ad Te Levavi," literally beginning the phrase, ‘To Thee have I lifted up my soul. That is, indeed, an activity that Christians can associate with a new year.

But, there is more that is unusual about this day, namely, the event read from the Holy Gospel – the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem – an event we know happens on what we call "Palm Sunday."

So, what are we to make of these curiosities?

I.

The answer is equally curious: This Gospel account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem belongs here, on the First Sunday of Advent, even more than it belongs on Palm Sunday! This Holy Gospel is the only one appointed to be read on two different Sundays of the Church Year. And when you hear it on Palm Sunday, it is the Secondary Gospel of the Day, intended to be read at the beginning of the service as part of the "Palm Sunday Gospel Procession," while the Passion History according to St. Matthew is the chief Holy Gospel of that Day.

Today is the day for this Gospel account to shine forth, because the Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem is the kick-off to the New Year. You see, both curiosities of this day do belong together!

In today’s Holy Gospel, Christ is presented to you by St. Matthew’s account as the King–The rightful and true Son of David, and the rightful and true Son of God–coming to the place where God intended to be found, the holy city of Jerusalem. Christ "coming" to you–that’s what the word "advent" means, and that’s what the season of Advent promises to deliver.

In this Gospel, St. Matthew quotes the prophet Zechariah pointing to Jesus’ royal entry into Jerusalem: "Tell the daughter, Behold, your King comes to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey."

II.

With his entrance into Jerusalem Jesus is openly declaring what He had kept secret unto that hour, namely, that He is indeed the One inquired about by the Wise men at the time of his birth: He is "the One born king of the Jews." When during His public ministry, Jesus became know as the Messiah and the royal Son of David to those who saw them, He strongly instructed the excited viewers to tell no one. It was not the time to tell. But now, as He rides on the donkey’s colt, this is the time to tell! The king comes to His city. As the Old Testament of the day declares: "And in His day, Judah will be saved!"

Jesus comes into His city for several reasons. First, He enters Jerusalem to display to the disbelieving Jewish ruling class that He is, indeed, the rightful king. Second, He comes to Jerusalem to enter and cleanse the temple, and to teach there, to display to the religious leaders that He is what the temple was to represent until His arrival, namely, the presence of God among men. Thirdly, He comes to Jerusalem to do the work that only God Himself can do, to die for the sins of the people and thus redeem them, and thereby to display to the world that He is the promised Savior.

And because of these reasons, when you begin a new Church Year, it is most appropriate that you hear this Gospel text, this declaration of Christ coming to save you, that in this entry into Jerusalem, Judah, and the New Testament Israel as well, will be saved.

III.

Advent is the season that inconveniently and rudely interrupts your busy holiday preparations with this pesky message: You have greater things for which to prepare! "Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed!" Christ is coming to your mind, heart, and faith. He is coming soon in the Word and Sacraments of the Christmas celebration. Get ready for that, if you get ready for anything in these week! How do you do that? You embrace Advent for what the season offers you – solemn and grateful repentance as you await the Feast Day of the Father’s love for you.

So, this First Sunday begins that preparation, showing you that Jesus enters Jerusalem to display to you that He is your rightful king! You spend your days living in the beautiful state of Colorado. Probably you could go weeks without even thinking about who is Governor of Colorado. You just live here and enjoy the benefits. Only when trouble comes to interrupt your living, might you think about what your government could do for you to solve the trouble.

Frankly, the government can’t do a thing! Not without the hand of the One who controls all governments. His royal entrance into Jerusalem proclaims that He is coming to you! He is your true ruler, and His kingdom is your true native land. In this coming year, each and every trouble should cause you to think of Zechariah’s prophecy and St. Matthew’s account. For it is indeed your true king who comes to you.

Second, the narrative of Christ entering Jerusalem prepares you for the Christmas festival by showing you that He is the true presence of God on earth. He who comes humbly into Jerusalem is He who lies humbly in a manger again this Christmastide, and millions of angels shout concerning Him, "Here is God’s peace, on earth!" That baby shows you how close God is to you! He is not the God of far away places. He is the God of your place, of your stall, of your manger! Advent calls you repentance that you might find Him where He wishes to be found.

Third, entry of Jesus into Jerusalem shows you His death on the holy cross, to draw you to that cross as the only antidote, the only medicine for the terminal disease of sin. Before the doctor says, "You have cancer," you just kind of ignore the symptoms and live as though you don’t. But, after the doctor says, "You have cancer," every moment is lived with that in mind, as you follow some plan to defeat it.

It is the same with the sinful nature. The Law of God awakens you to an awful reality, the reality that you have a disease of the soul, and it is terminal. The Law of God will not let you make light, or ignore, this disease. It demands perfection of you, in order to show you this terminal imperfection. It does this so that it can then step aside, as the Gospel addresses your question, "What can I do?"

The very heart, center, foundation, and message of the Gospel is the holy cross of your Lord Jesus Christ. There is the remedy. Looking to it, just as the Israelites looked to the bronze snake on Moses’ pole, saves you! This is why Christ comes to Jerusalem. This is why Christ comes to the earth. This is why Christ prepares you for another Christmas festival! This is why there is joy at this New Year! It all begins again today – Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!