Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

A couple more Christmas hymns before we reach Epiphany.

Haggai 2:7 – I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Song:  Red Mountain Music – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Another Christmas Hymn from Charles Wesley, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” takes the form of a prayer.  This hymn text has been paired with multiple tunes that have gained popularity, but most likely, the first tune it was paired with was “Stuttgart” by Christian Friedrich Witt which had been written in 1716.  It is still arguably the most popular today and the one found in most hymnals.

Wesley wrote this prayer in 1744 upon reading Haggai 2:7 above and reflecting on the suffering he saw in the world around him.  He saw the plight of orphans all around him.  He lamented that in Great Britain at the time, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.  Hear the words of the first verse from that perspective:

“Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.”

Wesley’s words and sentiment seem just as current now as they were 281 years ago.  The longing in every heart, whether we can name it or not, is to find contentment in God.  To do so is to find our strength and consolation, to have our deepest desires quenched, and to experience incomparable joy.  When people experience this deep connection to God, they no longer hold on so tightly to their wealth; they freely share it with people in need.  They no longer engage in petty conflicts; they see Jesus in others.  They welcome strangers, feed the hungry and adopt orphans.  They work for justice, but they do it with joy in their heart.  They forgive wrongs. They gladly sacrifice in service to others because they sincerely believe that in doing so, they are offering their service to Christ Himself.  This is the sentiment behind the second verse:

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.   

As Christ reigns as King in our hearts, we become participants in His Kingdom being brought to others.  As Jesus says in reference to His work, “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5)  Those words are now supposed to describe those who have welcomed Jesus into to their life.  They’re supposed to describe US!

Come, thou long expected Jesus!

Question:  How has your faith in Jesus affected what you do for and with others?

Prayer:  Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Amen.