Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Eight days later the followers were again inside a
house. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked.
Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “May
you have peace!” He said to Thomas, “Put your finger
into My hands. Put your hand into My side. Do not
doubt, believe!” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and
my God!”
(John 20:26-28 NLV)

The Israelites did many things in order to be right with God. They sacrificed, repented, washed, and purified. But even with all their rituals and ceremonies, they were unable to realize the deepest cry of their hearts–to be in relationship with God. What they really desired was God with us.

During Advent one of the hymns we often sing is Charles Wesley’s “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” The first stanza of this hymn reflects Israel’s anticipation of their promised Savior and their deep desire for his coming:

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.

God knew the deepest cry of their hearts because it was God’s desire too. God wanted to be with them in a way that was better than they ever could have imagined–a way that would assure them of God’s deep and abiding love for them–for all of us. This was God’s plan all along. So when it was time, the ancient prophecy was fulfilled, and Mary gave birth to Jesus–Immanuel, God with us. That first Christmas Day, God chose to be in the flesh to walk among us, touch us, eat with us, and share life with us.

It is such a great and wonderful mystery that God did this for us. God gave us what we never even knew we needed–a Savior who lived in our world and experienced life just as we do. Jesus felt lonely and rejected, isolated by the very people he was coming to save. He loved people that he lost to death’s cold grip. He was tempted, both physically and spiritually. He questioned God’s will for his life. He felt physical pain and the mortality of his human body. And yet he also laughed and loved and experienced all the beauty of God’s world.

Why is it significant that Jesus came and experienced all these things? It means that we are not alone. We are not alone because Jesus went through everything we do so that we can know he loves us that much. He has delivered us from sin and death so that we can transcend this world and live with him forever.

Sometimes its not easy to believe that the story is true. When hope seems a luxury and fulfillment is nowhere in sight, we doubt. But even in our doubt, Jesus is gentle and gracious, allowing us, like Thomas, to feel his human scars, look into his eyes, and doubt his love no more.

Just as the first stanza of Wesley’s hymn is seeped in hope and anticipation, the second stanza answers that cry:

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.

Jesus is the fulfillment of our hope. His coming is the certainty that God is with us and does not leave us as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Amen!

Prayer Focus
God the Father knew what needed to be reassured of God’s love for us, and God provided a way. What does it mean to you that Jesus was sent to be God with us?

From Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb, The Wonder of Christmas: Devotions for the Season