Advent 1 - Series C

Advent 1– Series C  

Jeremiah 33:14–16

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

Luke 19:28–40 or Luke 21:25–36

The Lord Jesus Comes in Humility to Redeem Us

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You lice and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

The Season of Advent focuses on the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this first Sunday establishes this theme for the rest of the season. The Son of God came long ago to be our Savior, “a righteous Branch,” descended from David (Jeremiah 33:15). As He then came into Jerusalem, riding on a lowly donkey to sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world (Luke 19:28-40), so does He come to His Church today in the humility of Word and Sacrament to deliver the fruits of His Passion: the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. He absolves us and establishes our hearts, “blameless in holiness before our God and Father” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). The same Lord Jesus, who came to Jerusalem then, and who comes to us now in peace, will come again with power and great glory on the Last Day. Then there will be “distress of nations in perplexity,” with “people fainting in fear.” Yet, as we anticipate that great and terrible day, He bids us to rest securely in Him: “Raise up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:25, 26, 28).

Read Luther's sermon on the Three Wise Men for context -

Luke 19:28-40

Luke 19:28 – 

Καὶ εἰπὼν ταῦτα ἐπορεύετο ἔμπροσθεν ἀναβαίνων εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Jesus went up, on ahead, up to be glorified, not as the world, but by the cross. He leads the way...

Luke 19:29- 

Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤγγισεν εἰς Βηθφαγὴ καὶ Βηθανίαν πρὸς τὸ ὄρος τὸ καλούμενον Ἐλαιῶν, ἀπέστειλεν δύο τῶν [a]μαθητῶν 

When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 

"went to Mt of Olives..." Gethsemane is connected to the Mt. Olives...where David was betrayed...where the Kindred brook was located.  

Luke 19:30- 

λέγων• Ὑπάγετε εἰς τὴν κατέναντι κώμην, ἐν ᾗ εἰσπορευόμενοι εὑρήσετε πῶλον δεδεμένον, ἐφ’ ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισεν, [c]καὶ λύσαντες αὐτὸν ἀγάγετε.

go into the village opposite in which upon entering you will find a colt tied upon which no one ever has sat. Untie it and bring it here. 

(See - 1 Kings 1:33, 34, 38). Jesus is riding in a King which has been redeemed (See Exodus 13:15) See Genesis 49 donkey and vine.

Luke 19:31- 

 καὶ ἐάν τις ὑμᾶς ἐρωτᾷ• Διὰ τί λύετε; οὕτως [d]ἐρεῖτε ὅτι Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.

if someone were to ask you, for what reason do you untie it, say, "The Master has need of it..." 

Luke 19:32- 

 ἀπελθόντες δὲ οἱ ἀπεσταλμένοι εὗρον καθὼς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς.

those going out found it just as he had said.

Luke 19:33-

λυόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὸν πῶλον εἶπαν οἱ κύριοι αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς• Τί λύετε τὸν πῶλον;

And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

while they were untying him, the owner said, why are you untiring the donkey?

Luke 19:34- 

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν [e]ὅτι Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.

 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 

Luke 19:35-

καὶ ἤγαγον αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν, καὶ ἐπιρίψαντες [f]αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐπὶ τὸν πῶλον ἐπεβίβασαν τὸν Ἰησοῦν•

 And they brought it to Jesus and put their clothing on the donkey, the seated Jesus on the donkey.  

How does this happen? Review Jesus' state of humiliation. Also see his acts of obedience.  Jesus is in control of everything. The goal is Jerusalem. The baby in the manger has come to die. 

Luke 19:36- 

 πορευομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ὑπεστρώννυον τὰ ἱμάτια [g]ἑαυτῶν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ. 

And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

A sign of power is to be seated. They are enthroning their king. They know...but they don't know...

Luke 19:37- 

ἐγγίζοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἤδη πρὸς τῇ καταβάσει τοῦ Ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν ἤρξαντο ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν χαίροντες αἰνεῖν τὸν θεὸν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ περὶ [h]πασῶν ὧν εἶδον δυνάμεων, 

As he comes near the place, (the way), as the road goes down the Mt. Of Olives, the disciples shout for the miracles Jesus had performed. 

Identifying the greatness of the one coming. A new connection?

Luke 19:38-

 λέγοντες• Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος [i]βασιλεὺς ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου• [j]ἐν οὐρανῷ εἰρήνη καὶ δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις. 

saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 

Luke 19:39-

καί τινες τῶν Φαρισαίων ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν• Διδάσκαλε, ἐπιτίμησον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου. 

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

Luke 19:40-

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς [k]εἶπεν• Λέγω ὑμῖν, [l]ὅτι ἐὰν οὗτοι [m]σιωπήσουσιν, οἱ λίθοι [n]κράξουσιν. 

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

_____________

Luke 21:25-36

The Coming of the Son of Man

Luke 21:25 

Καὶ [a]ἔσονται σημεῖα ἐν ἡλίῳ καὶ σελήνῃ καὶ ἄστροις, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς συνοχὴ ἐθνῶν ἐν ἀπορίᾳ ἤχους θαλάσσης καὶ σάλου,

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 

Luke 21:26

ἀποψυχόντων ἀνθρώπων ἀπὸ φόβου καὶ προσδοκίας τῶν ἐπερχομένων τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, αἱ γὰρ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται. 

people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Luke 21:27

καὶ τότε ὄψονται τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν νεφέλῃ μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Luke 21:28

ἀρχομένων δὲ τούτων γίνεσθαι ἀνακύψατε καὶ ἐπάρατε τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑμῶν, διότι ἐγγίζει ἡ ἀπολύτρωσις ὑμῶν.

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Luke 21:29

Καὶ εἶπεν παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς• Ἴδετε τὴν συκῆν καὶ πάντα τὰ δένδρα•

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

Luke 21:30

ὅταν προβάλωσιν ἤδη, βλέποντες ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν γινώσκετε ὅτι ἤδη ἐγγὺς τὸ θέρος ἐστίν•

As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

Luke 21:31

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ἴδητε ταῦτα γινόμενα, γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐγγύς ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ. 

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Luke 21:32

ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.

Luke 21:33

 ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ [c]παρελεύσονται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρελεύσονται.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

Luke 21:34

 Προσέχετε δὲ ἑαυτοῖς μήποτε βαρηθῶσιν [d]ὑμῶν αἱ καρδίαι ἐν κραιπάλῃ καὶ μέθῃ καὶ μερίμναις βιωτικαῖς, καὶ [e]ἐπιστῇ ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς αἰφνίδιος ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη 

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Luke 21:35

ὡς παγίς• [f]ἐπεισελεύσεται γὰρ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς.

For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luke 21:36

ἀγρυπνεῖτε δὲ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ δεόμενοι ἵνα κατισχύσητε ἐκφυγεῖν ταῦτα πάντα τὰ μέλλοντα γίνεσθαι, καὶ σταθῆναι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. 

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software