Grace,
Mercy, and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ Amen
And
when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying,
“Who is this?”
I need
you all to do me a favor tonight/this morning. Close your eyes and
take a deep breath. I need you to take all the to-do lists that you
have started and put them far out of your mind. Forget all the
presents that need to be brought and wrapped, get them as far out of
your mind as possible. Forget about all the food that needs to be
made, all the parties that need to be attended, take your mental
December caldendar and burn it right now. Now take one more deep
breath and open your eyes. Now let's prepare for Christmas. Let's
properly prepare for it's many tasks, it's many demands, and set our
priorities straight right now.
Now I
understand that Christmas takes a lot of preparation. In fact, that
is what our readings all focus on today. We need to properly prepare
for Christ. And if we properly prepare for the coming of Christ on
Christmas day, if we properly understand the preparation that went
into preparing for the Triumphant Entry of our Lord, we will be well
on your way for properly preparing for his second coming on the last
day.
The
common question that always comes up when Jesus enters a new place is
“who is this?” Things seem to be a bit out of order this week,
it would seem. Last week our Gospel was the crucifixion of Jesus and
the two criminals with him. This week we read of his triumphant
entry. This even took quite the preparation to complete. Not only
did Jesus have to get to Jerusalem, but there was a whole host of
prophecies that needed to be fulfilled in this one act. So he sent
two of his disciples on ahead to begin the fulfillment. Now
when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount
of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into
the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey
tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If
anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’
and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what
was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a
donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
Then
as Jesus entered into Jerusalem amid shouts fit for a king coming
into a battle, with shouts of Hosanna, save us now, as the
whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
30
years earlier, proper preparation surrounded even his birth.
Preparation that was needed to fulfill the scripture. Mary and
Joseph needed to get from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill the
scripture which was written concerning the birth of the blessed
child.
But
you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans
of Judah,from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in
Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Even
Behold,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. So
a census was called and Joseph took his future wife who was with
child to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed, since he was of the line
and linage of David. Still amid the pomp and circumstance that
surrounded his birth the question was asked, who is this?
I
think the pomp and circumstance is what we like best about this time
of year. We like putting up the trees, decorating the houses, baking
the cookies and meals, buying presents for those we love. We like
the preparation that leads us up to December 25th,
Christmas Day. But why do we do it? What do we run around like mad?
Staying up until all hours of the night cleaning, wrapping, and
baking? Because people expect it? Because it's the only way we know
how to do Christmas? When things are at their busiest a fear we
forget why/what we are celebrating. When things seem unbearable we
must ask “what child is this?” Just like the hymn says, What
child is this who lay to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?
What
are we preparing for? What child is this? Think long and hard about
who we are celebrating and what his purpose was for coming to earth.
Yes we prepare well for the coming of the promised Messiah, the Son
of God born of the Virgin Mary. Yes it is am extremely exciting time
as the Son of God humbles his self to the point of becoming his own
creation.
But
why did he come to earth? What was his sole purpose? Some may argue
this, but his sole purpose of coming to earth was to redeem his
fallen creation. This was foretold already in Genesis chapter 3
where God tells the serpent I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring
and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise
his heel.
What
did it take to redeem the fallen creation? What did it take to put
enmity between Satan and the woman? What did it take to drive apart
God's creation from the devil? It is not a trick question, it took
death! The death of one. Jesus Christ's sole purpose of coming into
his creation, into the world, the earth which we walk today, was to
DIE! Yes we are preparing for his birth but we are also preparing to
watch this coming child walk right from the cradle to his death on
the cross.
Seems
a bit cruel doesn't it? It seems a bit off to decorate and celebrate
the to the extent that we do for one who was going to die a
criminal's death any. Should we really be putting up trees, ribbons,
giving gifts, in memory of one who would be given up to death by this
unloving Father?
Yes,
yes, and yes! We give gifts, we celebrate the wondrous gift of the
Babe of Bethlehem because he is for us the ultimate gift. Wrapped up
in the swaddling cloths lay the very Savior of the World. The one
who, out of love, was given up by his and our Father so that we could
be given the most precious gift of all, life.
When
we can realize what is at the heart of Christmas, the gift of Jesus
Christ, the gift of life and salvation, then we can properly prepare
for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. We don't give gifts
because society says we have to. We give each other undeserved gifts
because we have been given the most undeserved gift of all, the
forgiveness of sins. We put up evergreen trees because it is the
Babe of Bethlehem who is from everlasting to everlasting.
So
you see, Christmas really is in the details. The reason for the
season had long been foretold when Jesus finally was born in
Bethlehem. On Wednesday evening we praised God for his faithfulness
shown to us just as it was shown to the Children of Israel in the
wilderness. Today we praise him for his faithfulness show through
the Old Testament prophets. Through their words the promised Messiah
was foretold and it came to pass, for us.
As
we properly prepare for the coming of the Christ, not only Christmas
Day, but the Last Day, do not forget the reason he comes. He comes
to judge and he comes to be judged. He comes to condemn and he comes
to be condemned.
Our
Sermon hymn fits so well for the First Sunday in Advent. And I love
the last verse which explains our preparation and anticipation so
well. He comes to judge the nations, A terror to his foes. A light
of consolations and blessed hope to those who love the Lord's
appearing. O Glorious Sun, now come, Send forth your means so
cheering and guide us safely home.
May
these words be your thoughts, your prayers, your focus as we journey
through the short season of Advent and wait not only the birth of the
Savior, but also his second coming. For this, this, is Christ the
Lord whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste, to bring
him laud the babe the Son of Mary.
Amen
SOLI DEO GLORIA
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