In 1744, Charles Wesley—a very well-known preacher and hymn writer—decided to write a hymn in which he clearly defined from his heart the true meaning of Christmas. This man wrote as many as 6,000 hymns, and he was a great influencer of England’s Wesleyan Revival. Though his poem is meant to be a hymn, it can still be considered a poem because of its rhyme scheme and the way it’s written. Wesley’s heartfelt interpretation of Christ’s birth really reminds Christians why one celebrates this joyful holiday.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley
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.
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.
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” was meant to be a hymn and carol. Sung mostly during Christmas, this hymn started out as a prayer until Wesley changed it into a poem, which was then put to music. Much later in history, Christians still sing this hymn around Christmas time, and many well known songwriters such as Chris Tomlin, Meredith Andrews, Brian Johnson, and Fernando Ortega have debuted their own versions of the hymn in their Christmas albums.
As Christmas comes around, people start watching, listening, and reading to their favorite Christmas movies, songs, and books. Therefore, the producers and authors make sure that their watchers and readers know that Christmas isn’t about toys, candy, or decorations, but instead about family, friends, and the joy of giving. While family, friends, and giving are good things, Christmas cannot just be about those things. Instead, we should enjoy our family and giving and still remember the true meaning of Christmas. But what is the true meaning of Christmas?
In the first stanza Wesley begins to answer this question, he writes “Come,Thou long-expected Jesus / Born to set Thy people free.” Jesus’ whole purpose of coming down to earth was to break the chains of death and to “set his people free” from the sins of this world. People could have never done that on their own, so the whole plan since the beginning was for Jesus to come and be born and then set his people free during his ministry. Therefore, Wesley also begs Jesus to “Come” because he is “expected” on this earth. He wants Jesus to come and do what he said he would do—release us from all our sins and fears. However, Jesus is so much more than just our Savior. As lines five through eight explain, He is “Israel’s Strength and their Consolation,” he is our hope, he is what we long for, and he is our everlasting joy. If one was to list all of Jesus’ titles and what he does and is, it would take a lifetime. That’s how amazing and wonderful he is. Jesus inspires joy and hope deep inside us; he is what we need and want and live for.
In the second stanza, Wesley describes how Jesus was born. The whole purpose of him coming down to earth was to deliver us—hence, line nine. He was born a babe, and yet he is the highest King who reigns eternally. Jesus’ birth can only be a miracle. Why else would a King be born of a virgin and in a stable with only shepherds and animals to worship him? By coming down to earth, Jesus gave up a place beside the Father to save us! He was both fully man and fully God and when he was born; he opened the door for us to prepare the way for his kingdom, as seen in line twelve. In lines thirteen to fourteen, Wesley talks about how the Spirit—which comes within us when we accept Jesus as our Savior—rules us eternally. Christians love Jesus and want to obey him as their King.
Finally, in the last two lines, Wesley closes by saying that because of Jesus’ worthiness and awesomeness, only he can do what he can do. Only he can “raise us to Thy glorious throne” or only he can control life and death, only he can give us eternal life, only he is worthy enough to deserve glory and sit on the eternal throne. His works will always deserve our praise, and everything the Son does is for the ultimate glory of God.
Therefore, the purpose of Christmas is not presents and decorations. Instead, it is a holiday of remembrance. It’s a holiday to remember the beginning of a wonderful life and ministry. It’s a holiday to remember why Jesus did what he did. It’s a holiday of how amazing and worthy Jesus is, and it is a holiday of praise. Without Jesus’ birth, he wouldn’t have been able to fulfill his plan. Isaiah 9:6 says “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (ESV). Jesus is the best gift of all for only he can truly claim the title of the best counselor, Father, and King of the world. All of Christmas should reflect his holiness, generosity, and mercy, and all of Christmas should focus on him.
Merry Christmas!
Image Credit: Unsplash
Works Cited:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come,_Thou_Long_Expected_Jesus
Wesley, Charles. “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Of Places Literature, Pensacola Christian College, Inc, 2021, pp. 162.