The Wednesday after Ad te levavi Sunday, The First Sunday in Advent

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 (NKJV)

10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Devotion

The crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as their King. Indeed He was their King, and He is our King. At that time, however, Jesus was not entering into Jerusalem to exercise all His kingly might and authority. He came as High Priest to make a sacrifice. He would sacrifice Himself upon the cross, which was the only sacrifice capable of taking away our sin and making us acceptable to God the Father.

The author of Hebrews says that, because of Christ’s work as our High Priest, now we may have boldness to enter the Holiest, that is, to enter into the presence of the most holy God. He says that we do this in full assurance of faith, having been washed with pure water, by the blood of Jesus and through His flesh. The holy presence of God is in His Word, Baptism, and Lord’s Supper, which are found in the Divine Service.

For this reason it is necessary to go to church, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. In the Divine Service we boldly enter the presence of the Holiest God through Jesus, who is true man and true God. Christ is wherever two or three are gathered in His name, observing His Word, receiving His Sacraments, and encouraging one another in faith, love, and good works.

Collect: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.