Sermon - Ad Te Levavi 2023 - Matthew 21:1-9

The Entry into Jerusalem, Hans Holbein the Elder, 1501

The Goal of Our Righteous King

1. The goal of Christmas isn’t a baby Jesus

2. The goal of Christmas is the cross

3. Jesus’ goal is to be our King and to deliver us His righteousness

This time of year always leads to a strange contrast between the church and the world. The world is celebrating, wishing one another happy holidays, throwing Christmas parties, eating lots of good food, exchanging gifts, having family reunions, and imbibing in this materialistic culture of buying gobs of stuff. The Christmas decorations have been up since Halloween, and really ramped up after Thanksgiving. Then, on December 26th, all of the decorations come down and Christmas is over in the eyes of the world. Then After New Years’ Eve, the parties end and people try to diet since they ate too much in November and December.

But it’s just the opposite in the church. Advent is a penitential season of fasting before the feast of Christmas on December 25th, and Christmas is a feast which lasts for 12 days, ending with Epiphany on December 6th. Popularly Christmas seems to culminate with baby Jesus in a manger, yet today’s reading shows Jesus as a full grown man entering into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in order to be crucified. In fact, none of the Sunday Advent readings are about the infancy narrative, none of them are leading us to a cute little baby in a manger. That’s very intentional, because the goal of Christmas isn’t baby Jesus, rather the goal of Advent and Christmas is our righteous King Jesus who comes to us.

The goal of Christmas is the cross. “Behold, your King is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey.” “This is the name by which He will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” The goal of Christmas is your righteousness and redemption as won on Calvary. This is important to remember as the world around us delights in its festivities. 

No doubt the food, family, gifts, music, decorations, events, and memories are good and very enjoyable. However, that’s not the goal of Christmas and this season of Advent, nor is that the goal of our life. The Lord’s goal for us is much greater than just some temporary materialistic pleasures. The Lord wants more for you than just some eggnog, a new TV, and a bunch of food. The Lord desires your righteousness. The Lord’s goal is your everlasting salvation.

For that reason Jesus came to His own people and was born among us, not just to make pretty Christmas cards with a baby on them, but to suffer the agony of the cross. Jesus came to His own people without great pomp and show, but instead humbly. People tease others when they’re messy, saying: “Were you born in a barn?” Jesus however really was born in a barn. Most traditionally, since the 2nd century, it was believed Jesus was actually born in a cave which served as a barn. So if it’s not bad enough to be born in a barn, He was even born in a cave.

Then Jesus is our King, yet, rides upon a donkey, a beast of burden. It was common that kings would return from battle on a warhorse, dragging along captives of war who were to be publicly executed upon the king’s return. But King Jesus brings with Him no captives to execute upon His arrival, because instead He Himself will be taken captive and executed. Instead of killing His enemies, He sacrificed His own life for those who hated Him.

Of course it must be noted that Jesus isn’t powerless or poor. Like He told His apostles, He could summon twelve legions of angels if He wanted, but that would not fulfill all righteousness. Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings. His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. He created the forests and the mountains, even the tree and the hill upon which He was hanged. But it is His humility to forsake His divine powers and die as a criminal for you.

Thus, the goal of Jesus coming to us as a baby was that He might come to Jerusalem and die for us as our King. What’s more, the goal of our celebrating Christmas isn’t just to remember that Jesus came as a baby, nor that Jesus was crucified as an adult, but so that we might remember that Jesus will come to us again on the last day! Jesus is the Coming One, as the crowds recited Psalm 118: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus is the Coming One, and He will come again to His people on the final day.

This is what makes Advent and Christmas such a profound time of year. Our celebration is about Jesus who is going to come again. Just as surely as Jesus was miraculously born of the virgin Mary, so will Jesus soon come back. He’s going to return, but this time without humility and meekness, without the hiddenness. When Jesus comes back angels will cry aloud and play their trumpets to announce His arrival. He will come as our King and our Judge, with power to destroy those who hate Him, and power to save those who love Him. Once He came in lowliness, but once again He will come in splendor and majesty!

Because Jesus is going to come again, Advent has always been a season of preparation and repentance. It’s a season to give alms, to fast, and to increase prayer. This is not a time for debauchery and distraction, this is a time for spiritual renewal and sober living. This is the time to amp up our religious lives and to refocus our lives on Him who truly matters.

Jesus tells us that He is coming soon. Maybe that means He’s coming back tomorrow or next month! If Jesus came back tomorrow or in a month, would I be ready for Him? Would He find me faithful to Him, or not? If I knew that I had one month before Jesus returned, what would I be doing? I’d be getting ready to meet my King! I’d be praying more, I’d be more generous with others, I would let go of grudges and I’d forgive, I’d receive communion with vigor, I’d sing hymns louder, I’d work really hard to root out sin from my life, I’d watch less TV, I’d go on a diet, and I’d read the Bible as much as I could in order to be ready to meet King Jesus face to face.

Perhaps there would be a bit of fear as I get ready to meet Him, I’d be nervous. But, there would also be a lot of excitement! Think about that! How exciting it is going to be to get to meet God! When the crowds outside of Jerusalem met Jesus, before they fully realized who He was, they spread their cloaks on the road, cut palm branches, and went out to meet Him! You can hear the excitement in their voices! “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!” Just as surely as Jesus came to those people, Jesus is going to come to us! You are going to meet Jesus! “Behold, your King is coming to you!”

He is going to come to you to deliver you from your enemies. Those mortal enemies who hate you will be defeated by King Jesus, they will not be victorious over you, since Jesus has come as our King to rescue us. Whether it’s cancer or a person who hates you, Jesus will rescue you. Not only from your mortal enemies, but from your spiritual enemies too. From the demons that plague your mind with anxiety and worry, tempting you with enticing sins, Jesus shall rescue you on the last day. 

While we await His return, we ought to ask the question: O Lord how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright? We await the King with repentant hearts, meditating on His promises, eating His heavenly food, and singing hymns of praise with all the saints. Just as the pilgrim crowds went to meet Jesus, so do we. We know Whom we await and we know that the goal of His return is to bring us with Him into His kingdom. Therefore, O heirs of the kingdom of God, your King is coming to you righteous and having salvation.