TITLE: “Lift Up Your Heads”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel lesson just read, with focus on the words of Jesus, Lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. Last week we heard from the Lord how His path of righteousness is set by Him and given to us in the liturgy and sacraments of His Church. This week we hear where that path leads, and how His Second Advent for you and I will be a day of great joy and happiness.

Are we there yet? Maybe you’ve heard the question before. You’re in the middle of I-80 in Illinois or Nebraska, and it seems like there’s a long way to go. Your children have reached the point of no return. They are getting ancy, and maybe even a little annoying. There’s nothing either you or they can do to hasten the journey. It will take as long as it takes; no more, no less. But why does it have to take so long?

Advent is a time of anticipation. We look forward to presents and gifts. We look forward to family and friends joining us for the holidays, and yes, we look forward to Christmas and the coming of our Savior in the flesh. But anticipation is not an easy thing. It can be tense and frustrating. Anticipation means that you are not in control of the future. The future has to come to you.

In order that we may know the path we take and not lose heart, our Lord gives us His very Word. As Saint Paul writes, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15:4). Now if ever there was an Advent word, it is that little word, hope. Hope is what drives the Christian faith. Hope for things to come. Hope for the coming of the Christ Child. Hope that our sins may be forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Hope that He will come again in glory and bring us to Himself in heaven. That is what Advent is all about.

I guess that’s what’s hard about the Advent journey we take. It is about hope. And hope, by its very nature, means that we can’t see it, touch it, taste it or smell it. It’s out there. You can’t prove it, but it is real nonetheless. Hope. As the hymnwriter exclaims:

O Morning Star, O radiant Dawn,

When will we sing your morning song?

Come, Son of God! Without your light

We grope in dread and gloom of night. (LW 32:4)

You are now faced with two paths. Satan’s goal and sole desire is to get you to look down at the journey. Think of how long and how hard a journey it has been. It will never end. Yours sins weigh you down. All of the trials and struggles of this life seem to have no end. This is certainly the season to get weighed down, to try and find your own path or an easier one. Will you continue to grope and dread and gloom of light?

That is the nature of sin itself. Sin constantly wants you looking in upon yourself. Sin wants you to be the center of your universe. Because as long as it is all about you and your problems and trials, then it is not about God and what He does for you with the coming of His Son Jesus Christ into your flesh. This is what they hymnwriter speaks about when he says:

Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;

Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.

Oh, come, lead us with mighty hand

From exile to our promised land. (LW 32:5)

These things lie before you, but there is a better way. Christ says to you this day, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. When the trials and tribulations of this life hit their worst, when the world comes crashing down upon you, when the pressures of this day seem to be worse than ever, it is then that Christ comes to you, forgiving your sins and drawing you into His eternal presence.

Christ’s coming in the flesh on Christmas really only has meaning to you and I even He comes today to forgive your sins, and if He is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, as we confess in the Creed. If you were to look closely at our text, you would see that there are all kinds of things predicted. Signs in the sun, moon and stars. Fear and expectation. The very earth itself will be shaken. And the Son of Man will come in glory.

So when is Jesus talking about here? Is He talking about the signs at His birth. Remember the star, the fear of the shepherds, the angelic choirs. Is He talking about His death? Earthquakes, the dead raised, fear fell upon all of Jerusalem and the world on that dreadful day. Or is He talking about the end of the world? The answer, of course, is yes. All of these things fold together and almost become one event for the Christian.

We are in the end times today. The signs in the world remind us of His birth, His death and resurrection, and that He is coming again in great glory. All of these things which happen are good things, because they are signs of His return. That is why we pray the great prayer of Advent: Hosanna! Save us now! Unlock the gates, the doors break down; Unbar the way to heaven’s crown!

We have a picture in our text of Christ’s coming that is not the quiet and serene picture we usually have when it comes to Christmas time. But this is good for you and I. Christ takes your problems and trials very seriously. He doesn’t simply pat you on the head and pretend that they will all go away. No, He rather breaks into our world of sin and darkness, and delivers you with His mighty arm. He delivers you by coming into your flesh, by taking on your very sin and death, and by giving you His very life. And He does this by the power of His Word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. His Word to you is true, and He has come into your life at great price. But because He has paid the price, eternal life is your reward. Let us pray:

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.