Advent
Matthew 21:1–11
1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2saying 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.
3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5"Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
8Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
10And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"
11And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he came from the Mount of Olives. Looking on a map, we notice that the Mount of Olives lies to the east of Jerusalem, hence he entered the city from the east. King David after being forced out of Jerusalem, later returned from the same Mount of Olives, from the east. The Temple sat facing the east as well. The altar of sacrifice was in the courtyard to the east of the Holy of Holies. The blood of the sacrifices was poured out on the east side of the altar. It was not just a coincidence that the entrance to the Garden of Eden was also from the east. The prophet Ezekiel watched as the glory of the Lord departed the temple and left Jerusalem because of the sin of the people and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city; the Mount of Olives. Some years later the glory of the Lord returned to Jerusalem from the east, and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters. Those same waters then rushed out from below the temple toward the east; that is, the saving waters of Baptism. When the Lord returns, his coming shall be like lightning that comes from the east and shines as far as the west (Matt 24). The sun that gives light to the world rises in the east, and Jesus is the light of the world. He is the light that "shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5)."
Do I detect a pattern here? Yes, Salvation comes from the east. So when you see the light coming from the east, your salvation is drawing near. And today we see Jesus riding into Jerusalem from the east; salvation has come!
However, the kingdom into which he came was a kingdom of darkness. In fact, we live in the kingdom of darkness. It is night here in this world. Just as Jesus was born in the night; bringing light into the darkness of the world. Into the darkness of your hearts. For your hearts are shrouded in darkness. Your minds and thoughts and desires are darkness. The deeds you have done in the past are the deeds of darkness. Behold your lives today, many of your present struggles, fears, worries, uncertainties, and broken relationships are because of the darkness that rules your hearts not only in the past but still today.
Now, I know some of you are thinking, "Pastor, you're not talking about me. Maybe the other people here today, but not me. I'm not darkness. My heart is not covered in darkness." You may think this is for someone else. "For you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness (Rom 2:19)." But God says something very different: "there is none righteous. No! Not one....For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave. The venom of asps is under their lips." So whether you accept it or not, or even believe it, darkness covers your heart. In fact, not believing that the darkness is in you, is itself the greatest darkness of all. Darkness rules your thoughts, your words and your deeds. You have used your tongues to hurt others. You have falsely accused. Your darkness is making accusations against others. You have lied. You have betrayed friends. You have been harsh and angry. You have shouted insults and judgments. Yes, those very lips that have received the holy body and blood of the Lord have also spoken words that hurt and harm.
But do not despair on account of your sin! Your salvation has come. The sun has risen in the east; Jesus has come to shine in your heart. Jesus entered Jerusalem to die for you. He is came to snatch you from the kingdom of darkness and transfer you to the kingdom of light. "Oh, house of Jacob, come, walk in the light!" (Isaiah 2:5). The light penetrates your soul and scatters the darkness inside you.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem from the east to die; in Baptism he rode into your soul and overcame the darkness of your heart. There on the cross he established the kingdom of light. There on the cross darkness covered the earth for three hours. There all the darkness of your and my hearts came together and devoured the sun for three hours as Jesus hung on a cross, until finally he shouted out, "It is finished!"
At that moment the light shone from the cross; your redemption was complete; your sins were forgiven. The people dwelling in darkness saw a great light. Look to the cross and see the light, you who dwell in the region and shadow of death, for on the cross the light has dawned upon you.
This is Advent! Oh watchman, keep watch for the light. Do you see it off in the distance? Is it coming yet? Prepare yourselves for the coming of the light; the dawning of the day. As you prepare your homes and yards for Christmas by stringing up Christmas lights and bright decorations, so too, prepare your hearts to receive the light. On these dark nights of Advent, remember the darkness in your heart, confess your sins, and when you flip the switch each evening to turn on the lights in your yard and house, remember the true light that pierces the darkness; Christ, the light of the world.
"Christ is the Lord; he has called you in righteousness...God has given him to be a light for the nations, to open your blind eyes, to bring you out from the dungeon, from the prison, you who sit in darkness (Is 42:5)." He turns your darkness into light, the rough places in your life to level ground. These are the things God does to you, and he will not forsake you. Thus says the Lord: "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you, I will keep you...to those who are in darkness I say, 'Come out' and they shall feed along the way and not hunger or thirst (Is 49:8-9)." "Darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness the peoples, but in Baptism the lord has risen upon you and his glory is seen in you (Is 60:2)." You are now in the light; you are children of the light. The light has risen in your hearts and shines in your life.
"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.) Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5)."
And now, "you are all children of light, children of the day (I Thes 5:5)." Do not sleep, as others do, but keep awake and be sober. "God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through your Lord Jesus Christ (I Thes 5)." "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the goodness of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9)." "God is light and in him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5)." As you continually receive the Sacrament of the Altar, "the darkness is continually passing away and the true light shines brighter and brighter (I John 2:8)."
However, "... if you say you have fellowship with him while you walk in darkness, you lie and do not practice the truth. But if you walk in the light as he is in the light, you have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin (I John 1:6-7)." "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light...Your sins are forgiven, little children, for his name's sake (I John 2:12)."
Jesus entered into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, coming from the east. The city received him with praises and hosannas, their true worship, same as a bride awaits the coming of the bridegroom. In Jesus' day, after the betrothal, the bride prepared herself during an entire year for the wedding, while the groom went to prepare a house for them to live in. Then when the house was ready, the groom came back, accompanied by his friends, processing through the city with torches to light the way, until he arrived at the bride's home waiting with her maidens, lamps lit, dressed in her wedding gown and adorned with flowers, anxiously waiting her beloved to come for her.
In the same way, the bride of Jesus, the church, awaits his coming, while he is preparing mansions in his Father's house for us. In this Advent Season, let us wait to receive Jesus, as Jerusalem received him—with praises and hosannas; like a bride adorned in purity and righteousness, lamps trimmed, waiting for the groom to come with the light of torches to join us to himself where we become one flesh with him.
In Holy Communion, Jesus, the groom, comes for his church, the bride. The two, joined by the bodily eating and drinking of his flesh and blood, become one. Rejoice, therefore, as a bride rejoices when she sees her beloved coming with torches lit. Rejoice, you who sit in darkness, the light is coming. Rejoice, you whose lives are dungeons of darkness, you can see the light in the east. It is coming! Amen.
May the light of Christ fill your hearts and lives this Advent Season as you adorn yourselves with love for the coming of your bridegroom. Amen.