Advent - Welcoming King Jesus
We have been encouraged to read through Luke this December - 24 chapters over 24 days. Today we come to chapter 19 on the 19th December 2024. This chapter focuses on the entering of Jesus into Jerusalem, when he receives praise from the crowds. This is a fulfilment of Psalm 118:26. It features them laying their cloaks on the ground.
The Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the crowds for praising him and to silence them. Jesus replies that if they were quiet, ‘even the stones would cry out’. Creation sings his praise. How much more should we praise Him for his mighty works and miracles (Luke 19:37).
We can praise Him with greater knowledge than these who had not known of his death and resurrection. We praise Him because of the sure and certain hope that his death has brought us. We are encouraged to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). How fitting that we come to this scene at the end of his life in this season where we celebrate his birth. Let there be "peace in heaven and glory in the highest" (Luke 19:38).
May this chapter cause us to think about how we can love and serve God today. And we remember that He is the one who gives peace on earth and is the focus of our praise and worship in the Christmas season . Let us not be like those who missed the time of God's coming (Luke 19:44).
