December 1, 2024

Today's Reading: Luke 19:28-40 

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22

“...Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Advent = “The coming or arrival of something or someone that is important or worthy of note.”

 (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition)

If you were in charge of preparing a celebration for the grand arrival of a VIP, that is, “someone that is important or worthy of note,” how would you do it? Would you go for classy or flashy? Would it be tuxedos and gowns with symphonic music or a DJ with heavy thumping bass, flashing lights, and smoke machines? Depending on the celebrity and the occasion, I guess you could make the case for either one. But isn’t it interesting that when Jesus, the Son of God, shows up to Jerusalem and makes His grand entrance, it was nothing like either of those things? In fact, it isn’t what you would expect at all.

Jesus rode into town on a colt, the foal of a donkey. His disciples spread their cloaks on the ground before Him, and some waved palm branches. Then, some cried out the words of a familiar hymn (Psalm 118:26). This is neither classy nor flashy. This doesn’t project power or grandeur. By the world’s standards, this is just plain and unimpressive. Yet this in itself says something about Jesus.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is almighty and one with the Father. He has all power and is worthy of all glory. When He arrived on earth in His first advent, He did not come with power and glory. He came in humility. He came as a servant. When people tried to make Him a king, He refused. He didn’t come to rule. He came to love and to give, to heal and redeem. He came to give life to a world overcome with death. He came for all people: the high and the low, the influencers and people everyone is talking about, as well as the ones who think no one knows they exist. Jesus knows and loves us all and came in all humility for us and for our salvation. 

Our Lord’s coming into Jerusalem is like His advent to the world itself. Christ’s poor little parade into Jerusalem sets the tone for the entire story of this great Savior who humbled Himself for our salvation. No, these are not the ways or ideas of men, but it is the way that God has dealt with us in Christ. From a position of all glory and honor, He humbled Himself to be nothing more than a servant so that those faithful servants who humbly trust in Him may one day partake in His glory.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Stir up Your power, Or Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.