The Son of David Is Coming

9 And 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!”

There are times during the church year when we rejoice to discover new insights into what the scriptures lay out for us about Jesus Christ. And then there are moments when you and I really just need to be reminded of the same point again, year after year. This is your annual reminder that today is the beginning of Advent, not Christmas.

Yes, I know that Christmas trees have started going up. I know that even the most stalwart among us have probably given in on listening to Christmas music. And yes, Santa has made his appearance at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade, ushering in the new season. Except the church operates on its own calendar. Literally. And, unlike our daily calendar, with the seasons that simply mark the passage of time and tell you whether you’re spending time mowing grass, raking leaves, or shoveling snow, the church calendar teaches. It continues to instruct us in the faith.

This is your annual reminder that today is the beginning of Advent, not Christmas. Yes, I know that Christmas trees have started going up. I know that even the most stalwart have probably given in on listening to Christmas music. And yes, Santa has made his appearance at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade, ushering in the new season.

It’s good that we emphasize the message that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” What’s even better is to observe the season of Advent. Advent reminds us that we are waiting. That doesn’t seem like an earth-shattering lesson. And it may not have the deep, emotional impact of Christmas or Good Friday or Easter, but it’s a really important reminder.

And it’s good that we emphasize the message that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” What’s even better is to observe the season of Advent.

It’s good that we emphasize the message

Except the church operates on its own calendar. Literally. And, unlike our daily calendar, with the seasons that simply mark the passage of time and tell you whether you’re spending time mowing grass, raking leaves, or shoveling snow, the church calendar teaches. It continues to instruct us in the faith.

Advent reminds us that we are waiting.

That doesn’t seem like an earth-shattering lesson. And it may not have the deep, emotional impact that we find elsewhere, but it’s a really important reminder. As a writer named Chad Bird puts it:

We’ve all seen the picture of a halo-wearing Jesus standing at the door and knocking. Not as familiar is the ski-mask-wearing Jesus who crowbars our door open to steal our stuff. This December, as we step into Advent, it’s the Christ Thief who demands our attention. (“The Thieving Christ,” Chad Bird. 1517.org, Nov. 30, 2019)

Our Gospel reading is actually a good example.

The problem with only emphasizing that “Jesus is the reason for the season” is that, on Christmas Day, the full picture of the fullness of what we are waiting for is hidden behind the picture of a little baby born to humble parents in a very humble place.

Our Gospel reading reminds us that He has a way of doing that— of hiding the full glory of what He’s giving you beneath very humble means. Yes, we are waiting for something. We’re waiting for that. For the word of the Lord to go forth, finally, once and for all.

Yes, we are waiting for something. We’re waiting for that. For the word of the Lord to go forth, finally, once and for all.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

Yes, we are waiting for something. We’re waiting for that. For the word of the Lord to go forth, finally, once and for all.

And while you and I are waiting, it’s easy to forget. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the daily grind, in the struggles of life in this world, and even in the joys of this world and forget that you’re waiting.

I remember coming across a quote, years ago, attributed to General Robert E. Lee: “It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we would grow too fond of it.” War is the ultimate test of human skill. It pushes you physically, mentally, emotionally. It allows us to achieve things that aren’t possible in any other arena. It brings out heroism that we seldom see anywhere else. It bonds people together unlike any other calling. It is glorious— except for the horrible, unimaginable cost.

You can say something similar about this life, can’t you? It can be glorious— building a life for yourself, building a home, contributing to our community, caring for one another, not to mention the beauty that’s possible in art and music or even just in the creation around us. It can be glorious, except for how unimaginably horrible it can be— we can be. It is well that this life is so terrible, otherwise we would grow too fond of it.

We certainly do. In fact, the longer we wait, the less diligent we are at watching. As a writer named Chad Bird puts it:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

As a writer named Chad Bird puts it:

...We are control hoarders. Every room in the house of our life is stacked with plans and schedules we manipulate to deceive ourselves into assuming we have a firm grip on the chaos of our lives. We don’t. One short in our home’s electrical wiring can send it all up in smoke. One quick glance at the phone in our laps [while we’re driving] can send us into the back of a semi and into ICU. We are not in control.

...We pride ourselves on needing no one. Standing on our own two feet. But it’s all a lie. And a rather comical one at that. The lady standing in the grocery store line thinks of herself as an independent woman—but without farmers she’d have no groceries to buy. Without construction workers there’d be no store. Without her employer she’d have no money. Without assembly line laborers, she’d have no car to drive them home in. And without seamstresses, she’d be standing there buck naked. Independent? Hardly. Our lives are thoroughly enmeshed in a web of dependence. [And, whether we realize it or not, that web begins with God.]

...The idols of our “righteous causes” hang in every room of our homes. Our political and religious crusades that make us feel important in the eyes of God and others. They give us a sense of identity and purpose and meaning in life. These causes may (or may not) be good, but we transmogrify them into our mini-gods. And we castigate those who disagree with us, belittle them, and say with our actions—if not our words—that they’ll never be as special to God as we are. (“The Thieving Christ,” Chad Bird. 1517.org, Nov. 30, 2019)

In spite of the fact that this life can be terrible, you and I have grown too fond of it and have stopped waiting for what God really desires for you.

Listen to the Old Testament reading again:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the LORD.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

Re-learning to wait during the season of Advent reminds us who our savior really is. As a writer named Chad Bird puts it:

“Behold, I am coming like a thief!” Jesus tells John ().

The day of the Lord will “come like a thief,” Paul tells the church ().

And Jesus says his advent will be like a home invasion ().

I know, not exactly how I envisioned the Son of God back in Sunday School, either.

But we need this other picture of Jesus, too, especially in this pre-Christmas season where we prize—and deify—all the wrong things.

We need God’s Son to show up on our doorstep, not with a knock but a crowbar.

Come, Lord Jesus, and steal our control.... [You] are not in control. [You] are in Christ. Come, Lord Jesus, steal our self-confident plans and replace them with God-given trust that, no matter what happens, we are safe in the home of your grace.

Come, Lord Jesus, and steal our independence.... Come, Lord Jesus, steal our self-important arrogance and replace it with God-given gratitude for all that you do for us through the hands of others.

Come, Lord Jesus, and steal our sacred sins. ...Come, Lord Jesus, and steal our navel-gazing worship, and replace it with love for our adversaries, ears to listen and mouths to shut up, and hearts brimming with compassion for all.

That was precisely what He came to do when He came to earth the first time. I our gospel reading we heard the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We describe Him riding in as a conquering King. That’s partially because describing Him coming as a divine thief is just a bit too irreverent. But that’s what was going on.

In , Jesus asks kind of a strange question:

29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

In that little hypothetical, the strong man is the devil and the One entering his house and plundering his goods is Jesus. On the cross, the devil was bound and Jesus plundered his house. He took from it what was rightfully His to begin with: You. By taking your sins upon Himself and paying the price for them, He took you from the devil’s house; He rescued you from the devil’s power; He gathered you into His kingdom. The nations flow to the mountain of the house of the Lord because they are drawn there by the cross.

God’s Word has gone forth from Zion

Soon He will come to gather you into His kingdom once and for all. The day is coming when He will judge between the nations, decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. As you heard in the words of St. Paul from our epistle reading:

English Standard Version Chapter 13

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The time is short. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. We just don’t have time to mess with unresolved disputes, grudges, etc.

We just don’t have time to mess with unresolved disputes, grudges, etc.

{not in orgies and drunkenness, sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy}

We just don’t have time to mess with unresolved disputes, grudges, etc.

Advent is a season of preparation, readiness, awareness.

Prepare us, O Lord, to be prepared by you for your advent among us.Ready us, O Lord, to suffer the destruction of all our precious faux gods, that we might have true riches in you.Make us aware, O Lord, that you give and take away, you kill and make alive, you ransack our homes to steal all the stupid stuff that keeps us from you, and replace it with simple, humble gifts wrapped in crucified love.

Visit our homes, O Christ Thief, during this Advent season, wielding your sacred crowbar. (Bird)

Come, O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Good: “Jesus is the reason for the season”

Better: Advent

“Better” because You and I are still waiting for something

You and I are still waiting for something

In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

That is why we start this season of Advent where we start it today.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

cf. Isaiah 2

In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

In reality, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Christ has come to the house of the God of Jacob (as the crowds shouted, “Hosanna”)

He has taught us His ways that we may walk in His paths.

Out of Zion has gone forth the word of the Lord.

Come, O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

So owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

{Casting off the works of darkness, putting on the armor of light}

{not in orgies and drunkenness, sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy}

We just don’t have time to mess with unresolved disputes, grudges, etc.

1st Reading:

Epistle: :(8-10) 11-14

Gospel: or

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The Son of David Is Coming

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In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Good: “Jesus is the reason for the season”

Better: Advent

“Better” because You and I are still waiting for something

You and I are still waiting for something

In fact, what we are waiting for is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Christ has come to the house of the God of Jacob (as the crowds shouted, “Hosanna”)

He has taught us His ways that we may walk in His paths.

Out of Zion has gone forth the word of the Lord.