Sermon – December 1st, 2024 – First Sunday in Advent
Hope Lutheran Church, Port Coquitlam BC
Text: Luke 19:28-40
Theme: 1 – Hope
Sermon series: “Advent’s Gifts”
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Introduction: (Pastor is waiting at the beginning of the Sermon for something to arrive.) I’m hoping it will arrive just in time. I tried to time it with the beginning of the Sermon(waits a bit more)…uh oh, I think I am being let down here. My hopes are dwindling that what I wanted for my sermon would arrive in time. Well, let’s see what happens.
Think about your life, times in which you were waiting for something important. Waiting is hard, but it is not empty. Because when you are waiting for something good, your waiting time is full of anticipation. You may get anxious or frustrated sometimes. But hoping for something good is always worth the time.
This is the first Sunday of Advent, the “Hope Sunday”. Interestingly, the passage in the lectionary for today is one from Palm Sunday. Is there a connection there? Certainly, beginning with the fact that both talk about wait, hope and expectation. The people in Jerusalem were extremely joyful with the coming of Christ for what his first Advent was meant for: His Cross and Resurrection – and Advent is a time when we reflect about The Second Advent as well. The multitude of his disciples was giving thanks to God “for all the Mighty Works” they witnessed.
Here are some parallels between the two dates:
Luke 19:28-40
_ Jesus’ Humble Arrival In Luke 19:28-40, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The crowds shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). The Greek word for “king” here, basileus, speaks of a ruler, but Jesus is not just any king—He is the King who brings peace, not through military conquest, but through sacrificial love. The crowds were waiting for a king who would overthrow their earthly oppressors, but Jesus brought a different kind of kingdom—one built on love and reconciliation.
— In Advent, we too wait for our King. We wait in hope—not only for Christ’s first coming, but also for His glorious return. Advent reminds us that true hope is rooted in Jesus’ humble entry into our world.
The expectation of the Crowd “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). This declaration is not just a greeting, but a statement of divine approval. The crowds were not just shouting words; they were proclaiming their hope in the One who would bring salvation. In a world full of broken promises, we place our hope not in human leaders, but in the King who is divinely sent to deliver us.
—Advent reminds us that we await for the Lord to come not only in the manger, but also in the sky —a hope that does not disappoint. There will be one day in which we will be living the Second Advent – Christ Coming as the King of the Universe to lead us home
The Rejection of the Pharisees They try to silence the disciples, saying, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:39). They were uncomfortable with the public acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah. They feared trouble would come if the crowds openly declared Jesus as King.[1]
—What about the rejection of Advent and Christmas? Not only in Jesus time, but also in today’s world, there are forces and ideas at play which try to silence hope in Christ.
The Promise of Peace Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, symbolizing peace, not war. True peace comes only through Jesus, and that is what Advent prepares us for—peace with God and peace in the world.
—-As we reflect on the unrest around us, Advent invites us to remember the peace of Christ that transcends all understanding. Our hope is not in the world’s peace, but in the peace that Jesus has already secured for us.
But I can almost hear the voices of modern time Pharisees, “Hey stop with this schmaltzy, Christmasy stuff. Is this Hope realistic” It can be cynicism, political unrest, or personal suffering, hope in Christ may come across as unrealistic. A boy born in manager brings hope to the World. Are you sure? Perhaps we should trust more the government, the climate change measures or what Artificial Intelligence can bring that will change our life forever. This is realistic, material hope.
Oh, you don’t tell me… I can look around and see how human-made hopes and dreams can cause the World to be the place of that Infamous song, “Imagine all the people living life in peace”. That is just so evident, isn’t it? And it’s getting only better… Irony mode on.
Palm Sunday and Advent both share the theme of waiting. On Palm Sunday, the people were waiting for the Messiah, but they misunderstood what He would bring. They hoped for an earthly kingdom, but Jesus brought a kingdom of peace and salvation. In Advent, we wait for Christ’s return, trusting that He will fulfill His promises in ways we may not fully understand.[2]
Waiting for Christmas gifts can be a time of anticipation, but unlike material gifts, the hope we have in Christ is secure. It is the gift that will never disappoint.
(Elder enters the church with a package) Oh, finally, here it is, thanks Bruce. My hope is finally fulfilled and I’ve got what I was hoping for (opens the package, but there’s something that disappoints the pastor)
Oh no, this is not what I was hoping and waiting for. I must have clicked the wrong link on Amazon, this is definitely not what I wanted for Christmas. Now what do I do?
The first normal reaction could be blaming the online store right? They must have done something wrong, cause I’m sure I did everything right. Or I can blame my spouse, they should have alerted me that something like this could happen. Or I could blame the economic situation, that drove me to buy something cheap and now I’m disappointed. How many more people and places can I find to throw my guilt upon. As the old saying goes, “Guilt is mine, and I place it upon whomever I want”.
Similar disappointment happens when we are waiting for the wrong person to come to us in Palm Sunday and Advent.
Many were waiting for a King in a White Horse on Palm Sunday, that would be really a sign of a Mighty King. Same for Christmas, they were hoping for a Palace, not a manger as the birthplace of the King of Israel
Many were hoping that granted that the King came in a humiliating fashion into Jerusalem, He would still have something up His sleeve to overturn the rules and take his throne. Same for Christmas, perhaps the manger was a bleep in God’s Plan, but that bout would certainly grow to begin the restoration many were waiting for.
What else in this world? Are we hoping for a King that will solve our financial problems, bind our relationships overnight. A King who will keep updating His Word so that it will support our new discoveries about life, death, right and wrong, sin, family compositions, choice, and many more?[3]
That’s when we get frustrated, anxious and perhaps even turning to other types of worldly hopes, or turning into fast relief to our disappointment, or even, blaming family, the church, the government and everyone else for the state of the affairs. After all, “The guilt for my failed Hope is mine and I place it upon whomever I want.”
TRUE HOPE
What is the Hope that we have? It is the hope that the humble king entering the World and the humble King entering Jerusalem brought: The Hope that is unfailing, unsurmountable and eternal. We Hope in God’s Precious Gifts
- The Gift of Faith: God gives us faith to trust in His promises.
- The Gift of the Word: Through His Word, He calls us into a deeper relationship with Him.
- The Gift Life: Life secure in His hands. Life eternal with Him.
This is what I had here inside this box. Word, Faith, Life.
Therefore, after reflecting on this Hope we have in Christ, this is how we can define it for today’s sermon: Christian Hope is the certainty that we will receive exactly what we are waiting for.
Because we have learned from the Word of God what to expect. The biggest promise of all was already fulfilled. The boy who was born in a manger, ended up on another wood-made object – a Cross. The king entering Jerusalem on a donkey would be dragged on foot through the streets of that city to obtain what no Human Hope could bring: Forgiveness and a Life that never ends.
Therefore, we know that we can live in hope, amid tribulations and suffering, with the joy and anticipation of something that in its time will come to a perfect conclusion.
And just as the crowds could not remain silent about Jesus, neither should we remain silent about the hope we have in Him. This Advent, let us be bold in proclaiming our hope in Him.
Addressing Objections to Hope Today
As we live our faith in the World, sharing the Gospel of Hope, we will face many difficulties. After all, this is not the Hope that the World offers. Usually, they are after more concrete things. Here are some ways though, that faithful to God’s word we can address those concerns with truth and love.
- “Hope is meaningless in a broken world.” It’s true that the world is full of suffering, but our Christian hope does not ignore this reality. Instead, it acknowledges the struggles and looks beyond them to God’s promise of His presence and to the ultimate promise of redemption. Hope in Christ is not wishful thinking, but the certainty that God’s Will and His plans are good and secure, even in the midst of trials.
- “How can I have hope when life feels so uncertain?” Life is uncertain, but God isn’t. If we are willing to run risks in family, career, personal life and many other areas just because we hope for something better (with no guarantee at all), much more we will rely on One Hope that is absolute sure. Christian hope is anchored in the unchanging nature of God (Hebrews 6:19) and His promises. Jesus faced the ultimate uncertainty—death—and overcame it through His resurrection (Romans 6:4). Our hope is built on the unshakable foundation of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the grave.
- “Hope sounds too idealistic. It doesn’t reflect the real world.” Idealistic is to imagine a new world where human can make things better with their own effort. Christian hope is a realistic reading of reality of a broken world that has in Jesus a tangible promise of Redemption. Jesus entered our suffering, lived among us, and died for us. Our hope is rooted in these historical events and in the assurance that he knows us, knows our life and covers us with his healing love.
- “I’ve seen so many people with hope, and they still suffer and die.” People with no Hope also suffer and die. What Christian brings it the promise that, in the midst of suffering in this life, caused by sin that is present in everyone alike, Jesus promised and delivered presence pardon, presence and a path to eternal life (John 14:2-3). Our hope not only sustains in this life, but guarantees us that after suffering and death, Life awaits us.
Conclusion: This is why we live confidently as we begin another Advent and Christmas. We have HOPE. And Christian Hope is the certainty that we will receive exactly what we are waiting for.
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[1] Greek Term: The verb “ἐπιτιμῶ” (epitimō) means “to rebuke” or “to admonish strongly.” The Pharisees are trying to prevent the people from acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, fearing it would lead to trouble.
[2] On Palm Sunday people sing the same song the angels sang on Christmas Night: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth”. In that sense, Holy Week is a Christmas upside down. The melody echoed by angels in Bethlehem is repeated by the multitude of the disciples in Jerusalem, becoming a bittersweet tune as it is sung in two different and almost opposite dates and occasions.
[3] Illustration: Think about the hope we place in someone who promises to bring change. During an election season, a candidate promises hope for a better future. But in Jesus, we see a King who brings the fullness of hope—not based on human promises, but based on the divine fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation.
