December 2, 2023

Today's Reading: Introit For Advent 1: Psalm 25:1-3; antiphon Zechariah 9:9b, alt

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 29:1-19, Matthew 26:36-56

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;  and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow begins the season of Advent. A season of waiting, preparation, repentance, and hope in Christ who came in the flesh, comes in His Word and Sacraments, and promises to come again. Tomorrow we hear how Jesus fulfills the words of his prophet Zechariah as He rides into Jerusalem amidst palms and praises. Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humbled and mounted on a donkey. Tomorrow we hear the Palm Sunday word ringing in the new church year as Advent begins the same Holy Week begins, with shouts of Hosanna!

Hosanna is the perfect word to sing as Advent begins. Hosanna means, “Lord, save us.” Jesus came to do his Hosanna work, to seek and to save the lost. 

This is what God  has always done. He is the God of Hosanna. The God who saves. When the people of Israel cried out to God in the days of Moses for rescue from slavery in Egypt, God heard their cry of Hosanna, Lord, save us. And he did. God saved them from death by the blood of the Lamb. God saved them from Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea. God saved them by dwelling among them in the cloud and pillar of fire in the tabernacle.

In Zechariah’s day, when the people of God, once again, cried out for rescue. They had spent seventy years in Babylon. They were returning from exile. The temple and walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Would God save us as he promised? Would God make his advent as he said? Will God hear our Hosannas? Yes, foretold the prophet Zechariah. Behold, your king is coming to you.

Centuries later, the king Zechariah foretold finally arrived. God heard the Hosanna cries of his people. God made his Advent in the wood of the manger and the cross.. God became man to be present with and save his people, and to save you.

In Advent, Jesus brings his Hosanna to you. He came in the flesh to save you. He comes in His Word, water, body and blood to save you. He promises to come again on the Last Day and save you. In Advent we celebrate and remember Christ’s first Advent in the flesh, confident that because He died and rose again, He will make His Second advent in glory. And until that day, our King Jesus still saves you and promises to be with you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

A humble beast He rides, Yet as a King presides; Though not arrayed in splendor, He makes the grave surrender. Hosanna, praise and glory! Our King, we bow before Thee. (LSB 335:3)

-Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

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

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.