First Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Luke 19:28-40                    

Luke 19:28-40

Jesus is coming into His own. Well, at least in one sense. He is the rightful King of Israel and He is entering His capital city. He is cheered by adoring crowds down the slope of the Mount of Olives and on into the old city. But lest we forget, this King left a far greater throne room than this world could ever afford Him. He stepped down from cosmic royalty to walk and talk with sinners. And to die for them. As the 4th century hymn of Ambrose resounds:

“Then  stepped forth the Lord of all

From His pure and kingly hall;

God of God, yet fully man,

His heroic course began.”

“Savior of the Nations Come,” LSB 332, v.4

As of this scene, that is only days away, but in between, the “ruler” of the province will query, “Are You the King of the Jews?” (cf. Matthew 27:11) He is, oh He is. We know what Pilate would soon find out. But Jesus' answer to him in the immediate is all we really need: “It is as you say.” But back to the procession. Jesus is ordered by the religious leaders to silence His followers who are indeed proclaiming the coming King. And Jesus simply responds that inanimate stones at their feet will pick up the cry if the people are hindered. Have you ever taken time to think about that? Stones? Really?

I’ll take it on His impeccable record that He indeed knew what He was talking about. And He was good enough, through the written record, to let us in on the conversation. May the voices of His people ever ring with the refrain, “Hail to the King!” And if the stones should want to join us, all the better.

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!”