Come Thou Long Expected Jesus: Part III

I'm sorry I'm a day late posting!

“Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.”

I have found myself saying (and even teaching) the phrase, “Jesus came to die.” I think I like Wesley’s focus better. He came to redeem – death was something he had to endure in order to accomplish that. See, Jesus didn’t set out to simply die. He could have accomplished that much sooner and in a less painful manner. No, he came to rescue sinful man, to fulfil prophecy, and be the fulfilment of God’s eternal plan. This opening phrase seems to specifically highlight his relationship to Israel, but the offer of salvation is extended to all. I used the verse in Hebrews 12:2 last week, he endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. The joy was the reconciliation of humanity to God (2 Corinthians 5:18). The joy was the deliverance of “Many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The joy was the fulfilment of the Father’s will (Isaiah 53:10). The joy was the opportunity for reconciliation between individuals and a oneness in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:13-22; John 17:23). The joy was not the suffering, but Jesus understood that the pain (in some cases) produced the joy. In other words, this joy could not exist without his suffering and death on the cross.

I am not going to attempt to minimize whatever pain you are encountering during this season. However, I would encourage you to think about what it is producing in you – and in the lives of those who are witnessing your circumstances. When Paul wrote, “It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” he was writing from revelation, but also experience (Philippians 1:29). He suffered tremendously for the message of the Gospel. He not only believed that Jesus was who he claimed to be and experienced the benefits that came with redemption, but he rejoiced through pain. He sang in the midst of intense persecution and physical hurt (Acts 16:23-25). Their singing in the prison affected the prisoners, the jailer, and his entire household. Their stay stretched even beyond that to the magistrates, police, community, and local believers. They would not have been in that position without suffering. Their joy would not have been extraordinary if not for the pain.

Now, I do not want to suffer. I wasn't even sure I wanted to write this post. I would rather life be enjoyable and carefree. However, Paul firmly believed that there were aspects of God’s character we could only learn through the avenue of suffering (Philippians 3:10). Christ came to redeem and deliver. Yet he did not come to deliver from all woe (at least not yet). One day, he will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4), but in the meantime, he came to deliver us from sin and sustains us in the midst of tribulation. He came that we might have abundant life that is not dependent on our circumstances (John 10:10). He gives joy that cannot be taken from us (John 16:22-24). What wonderful promises – yet how difficult to walk that path. Still, he walked it before us. As another wonderful carol notes, “He knows our need. To our weakness, he’s no stranger. Behold, your king…” I’m not going to pretend you should enjoy suffering. I never have and don’t anticipate that I will in the future, but the grace that drew us to repentance is given for trials. He walks with us and sustains us.

He was born a child, and yet a king. Isaiah’s prophecy was not arbitrarily worded when he said, “A child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus was born as a baby, but the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, was the one who stepped into time. He never ceased to be God even though he laid aside the independent use of his attributes. He “Emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). A helpless child was born on that unusual night in Bethlehem, but the King was the one who stepped off his throne and came to dwell among us as Emmanuel.

He was born to reign in us. When all has faded, when evil is bound eternally, when judgment is final, when the true eternity starts, he will still be reigning in our hearts. I can’t help but think of the final quote from, The Last Battle, “And as he spoke, he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them…But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All of their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” The things that seem so overwhelming now. The seemingly urgent and overwhelming present are ultimately a blink in light of eternity. He will endure forever, and he will not only reign on the throne of heaven, but he will reign in the hearts of all those who have been redeemed.

Now they gracious kingdom bring – in the end, John sees a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. They have never been (and will never be) tainted by sin. They are a perfect reflection of the Glory of God. He will be the glory, temple, and light of that city (Revelation 21:22-27). This is the kingdom that Wesley desired. This is the promise that the saints through all eternity have waited for (Hebrews 11). This is where our hearts should be. I am not saying we should become reclusive Bible scholars. Our desire for Heaven and the things of God should actually motivate us to see his will accomplished on earth. Our hearts should not merely desire the perceived benefits of heaven, but rather that his will, his purity, his light, his joy, his glory (the attributes that we will be able to fully experience in his presence) will be made visible on earth. One day, we will no longer see him through a glass (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will see him fully in all his radiance. Still, we do not need to wait for that day to begin sharing his life with those around us. We do not need to wait until that day to experience his love and joy. This Christmas, we should desire his coming kingdom, but I would also encourage us to start by surrendering to his will on earth. Start by acknowledging that he rules in our hearts, and that is the next refrain…