Ad Te Levavi

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold! Your King comes to you’” (Mt 21:5). First, these words are a command to all preachers. What words should be spoken to the church? Only these, “Your king comes to you.” No other words, no other message, no other gospel – only Christ, who comes in meekness to be crucified, the Shepherd, who comes to die for his wandering sheep. Whoever preaches anything else is a wolf and a deceiver.

Second, these words are to be preached to the daughter of Zion, to you. When God commands that the Gospel of Christ be preached, there must also be someone who hears – someone who receives and clings to these words in faith. If you want to be a Christian, you must let these words be spoken to you. Behold! Your King comes to you! It’s easy enough to believe that Christ comes for the great saints, for the holy men and women of old. But are you holy compared to them? Hardly. Do you dare say, “Even though I am a great sinner, I know that God will be gracious to me?” Is it arrogance to believe that the King of glory comes for you? If it is, then God commands such arrogance toward the grace he offers. This is what God calls faith: the sure and certain trust that Jesus has come to be your King, that he has come to be gracious to you.

Third, reason cannot see how a poor man riding on a borrowed donkey can be the king of anything, let alone the King of glory. But faith doesn’t judge by what it sees or feels. Faith judges by what it hears. It clings to the Word alone, and not to sight or appearance. The true daughters of Zion are those who hear the words of the prophet and receive their King in faith. If Christ had entered magnificently, like a worldly king, riding on a stallion at the head of a mighty army, the world would have recognized him at once. But then there would have been no need for faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God.

Fourth, the words “your King” separate this King from all others. He is your King, who alone shall rule you. You shall live in his kingdom and not another’s. This is a great comfort to the believing heart, for without Christ we are subject to many raging tyrants: the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. But whoever is under this King and lives in his kingdom in all righteousness, innocence, and blessedness is free from these wicked masters and cannot be harmed by sin, hell, devil, men, or any other creatures. These treasures are given by this poor, neglected King who rides on a lowly beast of burden. Reason doesn’t see any of this, nor does this world comprehend him, but faith alone does.

Fifth, he is coming. This is perhaps the sweetest part of the Gospel text. Without a doubt, you don’t go fetch him. Christ is too high and too far from you. The chasm between God and sinners is too vast. You cannot cross it. You cannot ascend to God. You cannot reach him with your works, by your own merit or worthiness. He must come to you. All merit and worthiness is defeated by his coming. We have nothing to offer but unmerit and unworthiness, and yet he comes with grace and mercy. You did not choose him. You did not seek him. You did not run after him. And still he comes. The Lord God says, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me” (Romans 10:20).

This is where the Christian faith begins. This is where a God-pleasing life begins – not with you, not when you make a choice, not when you reach out to God, but when God comes to you. There is no work or beginning in us that can make us godly – no spark of faith, not even the desire to come to God. The season of Advent begins where the life of faith begins – with the coming of Christ. He is the author and finisher. There is no other beginning than that your King comes to you and begins his good and perfect work within you. The Gospel must be first of all. It must be preached and heard. In hearing the Gospel we learn that everything we do or begin is sin. We learn to turn from our works and despair of our own efforts. We learn to receive our King by faith, to cling to him, and to find all consolation in his goodness.

It is not by your power that you hear and accept this. It is by the grace of God, for there is no greater grace than where God sends his Gospel. This is what “your King comes to you” means. You don’t seek him; he seeks you. You don’t find him; he finds you. You don’t call a preacher; God sends a preacher to you. Even the faith that receives God’s preaching with gladness comes from him, not from you.

In short, in these words, “Your King comes to you,” we find the whole Gospel. While we were his enemies, Christ died for us. To those who shouted “Hosanna” on Sunday and then crucified him on Friday, Jesus came. Even though we mocked Christ with our sinful words and deeds, he says, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” The mercy of God is new every morning, how much more is it new every year! In this we may be sure, that though we do not deserve it, Christ comes to us again this year with all his grace.

How then should we prepare for his coming? How can be worthy to meet our King? Certainly not by anything we do. We are prepared to meet Jesus when we believe his words. Yes, Advent is a season of repentance, but repentance is more than confessing your sins to God. It is believing God when he tells you that for Christ’s sake he forgives all your sins. Our King comes to us, not in judgment, but in mercy. He comes bringing his peace with him. Let us prepare for his coming with penitent and faith-filled hearts. Amen.

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