Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
The first hymn in our hymnal is Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley. Charles was the youngest of 18 children and in 1735 came to colonial Georgia for a brief period as a secretary to General Oglethorpe. Although he was ordained by the Church of England it wasn’t until a conversion experience on Whitsunday, 1738, during a Moravian service that he found “rest in his soul” and the gift of hymn writing was released in him. He became a prolific hymn writer, over 6,000 penned, eleven of which are in our hymnal today. (Four of those being found in the Advent and Christmas sections, including the favorite Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.)
The season of Advent is about preparing for the birth of Jesus, getting our hearts and minds ready to receive the love of God in human form. But in reality Advent is not just a season - it is a 24-7, 365-days-of-the-year way of life for all Christians. Since Jesus’ ascension, Christians throughout the ages have been preparing for his return. In the first stanza of Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Charles Wesley puts to music the prayers of the generations for the return of Jesus: “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.” It is so strange a thought that contemplating living an eternal life without being fearful or sinful is almost beyond human comprehension. In his second and third stanza Wesley gives us hope that we will have the strength, through God’s gift of Jesus, to see this life through to that very moment. “Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now thy gracious kingdom bring.” The final stanza of this hymn asks for the baby who was born to be a King to rule in our hearts and give us grace sufficient to make it to our eternal home; “By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone: By Thine all sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne.”
The prayer for today uses part of the text from Charles Wesley’s beloved Christmas hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. (Note: Despite what we assume would be the correct word Wesley uses “sun” instead of “son.”)
Jesus, we have long expected you and celebrate that you came to earth in human form to deliver us from our fears and sins. “Hail [to you] the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail [to you] the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all [you bring], Risen with healing in [your] wings. Mild [you] lay [your] glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth.” Help us to remember every day to give “Glory to the new-born King!” Amen.
Misse Mallino
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