Advent Readings: Psalm 2, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-5, and Mark 11:7-11

PEACE 🕯🕯

We are nearing the end of the week of Peace. I was thinking about how often this word is used in the New Testament. Specifically, Jesus uses the word numerous times. The ones that come to mind for me are when he says "Peace be with you" to His disciples, "Go in peace" to two different women, and "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." The peace that Jesus gives us is reconciliation, wholeness, forgiveness, and spiritual certainty. When I am having a moment of spiritual doubt, when I am feeling unworthy, I remember this gift of peace. I am forgiven, I am made whole, I am made righteous through the blood of Jesus, and I am reconciled to God. "Peace" or "peace out" were slang terms when I was a child. It's just language. But when the word "peace" was used so casually, as it was then, it lost its true meaning. This week of the year, this week of Advent each year, we remember God's definition of peace, and how Jesus gave this to us. May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you today.

Old Testament

Psalm 2:6 

“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Old Testament

Zechariah 9:9 

The Coming of Zion’s King

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
Look, your King is coming to you;
he is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

New Testament

Matthew 21:1-5 

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.”

4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

5 Tell Daughter Zion,
“See, your King is coming to you,
gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.” [Is 62:11;Zch 9:9]

New Testament 

Mark 11:7-11 

7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord! [Ps 118:26]

10 Blessed is the coming kingdom

of our father David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!

11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

CSB