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 eve’ry nation, Joy of ev’ry 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
By thy own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all sufficient merit Raise us to thy glorious throne.
Singing the advent hymn, “Come thou long expected Jesus” we are able to see the expectations harbored for the long-awaited Messiah. Prominent in these expectations is the hope of a King/kingdom that is described as gracious, glorious, powerful, all-sufficient. The people had waited a long time for this king to appear. John was chosen to prepare the way for Him to arrive and he does his job exactly as proscribed. But time has passed and this One who has come is “a puzzlement.” He is meek and mild. A teacher and healer. He doesn’t seem to be attacking the “enemies” (the Romans who were taxing the people into poverty), but instead attacks the Jewish religious establishment, the revered leaders of the community. Even those closest to Jesus are looking for an immediate tangible kingdom. A mother wants her sons, James and John, to be in the inner circle of power and riches. Judas monitors the purse strings hoping to be the money man. The prophet John is in prison and even he is unsure of what is going on. This was nothing like what he had expected either. He sends his disciples to Jesus to assure himself that he had not gotten it wrong, “Are you the one we were to expect?” he asks. Jesus points him to the scriptures in Isaiah which tell not of a king, but of a suffering servant—one who heals the lepers, makes the blind to see and the lame to leap. Yes, he is the one for whom they had waited.
Years of study and wisdom have shone us that there are two comings. The initial coming prepares us for the ultimate coming. The first coming prepares our hearts, introduces us to kingdom living made possible by the salvation of Jesus the Christ, and invites us to extend the invitation to others. It does not promise that all our immediate enemies will be thrown down, but promises us an inner resource in the Holy Spirit (the comforter, the teacher, the One who discerns) to help us to withstand in the times of trial. Maybe like John this is not what we had in mind when we came to Jesus. Maybe our expectations included success, power, a resolution of all our problems, a healing of all relationships and we too have been disappointed. Our expectations have not been met. Our “genie in a bottle” is flawed and we are disillusioned. Life is hard. Like others, we ask “Why is evil is allowed to have such power? Why are disease and death still so powerful? Why do my losses hurt so much?” and we too ask, “Are you the One?”
Jesus gives us the resounding answer in his resurrection “Yes, I am the one! I will do all that I have promised. I will establish my kingdom, I will come again, do not lose hope!” We have it right. Jesus is the One. We can count on him to keep his promise to return. In the meantime we are to live a kingdom lifestyle right here, right now, as we wait for the fulfillment of that glorious eternalKingdom, the new heaven and a new earth. Scripture tells us, do not lose hope! Keep on believing. Keep on working. Keep on praying. Keep on!
