Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

1. The Staggering Reality of God Incarnate

Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the incarnation.

God became man. The Christmas story reveals the profound and unfathomable truth that the eternal Word, God himself, became flesh and dwelt among us. This means the divine Son appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, utterly identifying with humanity in every way, including the messiness of birth and the vulnerability of infancy. This act of God "tabernacling" among us is the central mystery of the Christian faith, a reality more astonishing than any fictional tale.

Full identification. The incarnation signifies God's complete identification with our human nature, taking on flesh so that Christ could be the second Adam, the perfect man Adam failed to be. Only as a man could Jesus mediate between God and humanity, for only flesh can die. This divine condescension was not an illusion but a reality, demonstrating God's willingness to enter our world fully.

Beyond comprehension. The idea that the omnipotent God, who governs the universe, would contract himself into a virgin's womb and be born as a baby challenges human comprehension. Yet, this is the core of the Christmas message: God, who created his own mother, chose to be conceived in her, remaining with the Father while simultaneously coming forth to us in flesh. This act of love and self-abasement is a wonder of grace, not merely a marvel of nature.

2. Christ's Profound Humility and Self-Emptying

He “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

Stripping privilege. The Son of God, though coequal with God in eternity and possessing all divine glory, did not cling to his prerogatives. Instead, he "stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man." This self-emptying, or kenosis, was not a diminution of his divinity but an addition of humanity, a profound act of humility.

Taking humanity. Christ's self-emptying was not about what he laid aside, but what he took to himself: human nature. He chose not to arrive with overwhelming dignity that would immediately proclaim his divinity, but as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This act of taking on humanity, with all its limitations and eventual suffering, was his way of becoming "nothing" in the eyes of the world, yet everything for our salvation.

Ultimate service. From the manger to the cross, Jesus consistently took the form of a servant. This is vividly illustrated by his birth in a stable and later by his act of washing his disciples' feet, wrapped in a towel. His entire life was lived on the principle of making himself poor—spending and being spent—to enrich humanity, demonstrating a selfless love that defines the true "Christmas spirit."

3. God's Choice to Reveal Himself to the Lowly

How surprising and significant that Father God handpicked lowly, unpretentious shepherds to first hear the joyous news: “It’s a boy, and he’s Messiah!”

Unexpected recipients. The announcement of Christ's birth was not made to kings, priests, or the religious elite, but to humble shepherds, who occupied the lowest rung of Palestinian society. This choice was a deliberate affront to the prevailing social and religious snobbery of the day, highlighting God's preference for the marginalized and overlooked.

Challenging prejudice. In Christ's time, shepherds were often despised, considered untrustworthy, and deprived of civil rights. Yet, God chose these "sinners" to be the first eyewitnesses of his glory and the heralds of the Messiah's birth. This demonstrates that Christ moved among the lowly from birth, coming to save the sinners, not the self-righteous.

Paradox of status. The elevation of the shepherd figure, later immortalized by Jesus as the "Good Shepherd," stands in stark contrast to their social standing. This paradox underscores a core Christian truth: God often works through the weak and despised of the world to shame the strong, revealing that true worth is not found in worldly status but in humility and faith.

4. The Incarnation as the Fulfillment of God's Promises

What God did when he sent his Son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything he has ever promised to do.

Covenant fulfilled. The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy and God's unwavering faithfulness to his promises, particularly the covenant made with Abraham that in his seed "shall all the world be blessed." Mary herself recognized this, seeing her Son's birth as the literal coming into being of God's great mercy promised to Abraham and his descendants.

Old Testament's aim. The entire Old Testament, with its laws, tabernacle, temple, and sacrifices, looked forward to this event. These were not the fulfillment of salvation but types and shadows, indications that God had a way of dealing with sin. The coming of Jesus Christ is the "great anti-type," the ultimate fulfillment that brings mercy and salvation into individual experience.

Guarantee of faithfulness. Christ's birth provides absolute proof that all God's promises are sure. Just as he fulfilled the ancient prophecies of a Savior, he will fulfill every promise he has made to his people. This offers profound comfort and assurance, guaranteeing that God will never leave or forsake those who love him, no matter their circumstances.

5. Jesus' Divine Vocation: Savior from Sin

He is here to cut the nerve of man’s real dilemma, to solve the problem from which all other problems flow. Man is a sinner who needs an overwhelming love. Jesus has come to save his people from their sins.

Purpose of the name. Jesus did not receive his name from his parents; it was mandated by an angel, meaning "God saves." This name signifies his divine vocation: to save his people from their sins. His coming was not primarily to overthrow political powers, raise living standards, or relieve ignorance, but to address humanity's deepest moral problem.

Submission to the Law. Jesus' circumcision on the eighth day, according to Jewish law, symbolized his submission to the Law of the covenant. This act marked his entry into his role as the New Adam, destined to fulfill the Law perfectly and win the blessings of the covenant for his people. His life of perfect obedience, culminating in his death on the cross, earns the righteousness we cannot supply for ourselves.

Ultimate redemption. The cross is presented as the "ultimate rite of circumcision," where Jesus takes upon himself the full curse due to his people. His death atones for our sins, but his life of perfect obedience also provides the righteousness necessary for us to receive the covenant's blessings. Thus, we are redeemed not only by his death but also by his perfectly obedient life.

6. The Holy Spirit's Quiet Work in Magnifying Christ

The shy member of the Trinity does mighty work, but he never puts himself in the limelight.

Conception by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit's role in Christ's incarnation was a quiet, unobtrusive work, serving the Father and the Son. It was through the Spirit that the Father caused the Son to be conceived in the virgin Mary. This mysterious act of creation ex nihilo in Mary's womb mirrors the Spirit's hovering over the deep at the beginning of the universe, bringing forth creation.

Magnifying Jesus. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to point away from himself and magnify the wonder of God the Son and God the Father. When Jesus promised the Spirit, he said, "He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." Therefore, being filled with the Spirit means being filled with love for Christ, as the Spirit reveals Christ's grandeur.

Omnipotent yet humble. The Spirit, though omnipotent, humbly performs the delicate and wonderful work of causing the virgin to conceive the One whose greatness he will magnify forever. This beautiful appropriateness means that if the heartbeat of our lives is the glory of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will empower and help us with all his might, transforming us as we gaze upon Christ.

7. The Gifts of Christmas: Intimacy, Comfort, Justice, and Power

In the gift of Christmas, the unassailable, omnipotent God became a baby, giving us the ultimate example of letting our defenses down.

Vulnerability for intimacy. Christmas offers the gift of vulnerability, enabling deeper intimacy in relationships. Just as God became breakable and fragile in Christ to "get us back," we are empowered to let down our defenses, admit wrong, and become vulnerable in our relationships, fostering restoration and deeper connection. This truth transforms us, allowing us to move into intimate relationships without always guarding our honor.

Comfort in suffering. The incarnation provides a unique resource for facing suffering. When we see Jesus dying on the cross, we don't see a judgmental or absent God, but a God of love who entered suffering to pay for sin. God so hates suffering that he was willing to become enmeshed in it, offering profound comfort and consolation, knowing that whatever the reason for suffering, it is not indifference.

Passion for justice and power over prejudice. Christmas teaches that God cares not only for the spiritual but also for the physical, having taken on a body. This inspires a passion for justice, knowing that God will ultimately redeem both spirit and body. Furthermore, God's deliberate choice to work through marginalized figures like Mary and the shepherds is the "end of snobbishness," providing power to overcome prejudice and see Christ in those we might otherwise despise.

8. Joseph's Righteousness and Obedient Faith

When God chose a human father for his Son, he chose a man who would be righteous and kind, qualities that reflect God the Father himself.

Righteous and kind. Joseph exemplified both righteousness and kindness. When faced with Mary's unexpected pregnancy, his love for God's law led him to righteously decide on divorce. Yet, his kindness prevented him from publicly shaming Mary, opting for a quiet separation. This blend of adherence to God's law and compassion for others reflects the very character of God the Father.

God's guidance for the thoughtful. God intervened in Joseph's dilemma, appearing to him in a dream as he meditated on what to do. This highlights that God provides guidance to those who thoughtfully seek his will, not to the unthinking. Before calling Joseph to the great task of raising his Son, God reminded him of his identity as "son of David," a descendant of the messianic king.

Trust and obedience. Joseph's response to the angel's shocking revelation—that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit—was an enormous act of faith and obedience. Despite all evidence to the contrary and the potential for public scorn, he believed God's word and re-oriented his life to conform to it. His willingness to trust and obey, even when it was difficult, serves as a powerful example for all believers.

9. The Greater Blessedness of Hearing and Keeping God's Word

’Tis more blessed to have Christ in the heart than in the womb.

True happiness. Christ, the great teacher, came to instruct humanity on true happiness. While the world often seeks happiness in external privileges, Christ taught that a greater blessedness lies in hearing and keeping the word of God. This spiritual hearing involves understanding, believing, and yielding one's heart to God's word, not just external reception.

Spiritual union. Keeping God's word means strictly observing it in practice, living according to its doctrines and precepts, and never forsaking it. This brings the happiness of a spiritual union and communion with God, a saving intercourse that is more profound than any external interaction. It is a greater privilege to have Christ formed in one's heart through faith than to have him physically present in the womb or arms.

More than temporal relation. Jesus himself emphasized that those who hear and keep God's word are more blessed than even his closest temporal relatives. He declared that whoever does the will of his Father is his "brother, and sister, and mother." This highlights that spiritual kinship with Christ, born of obedience to his word, surpasses even the unique privilege bestowed upon Mary.

10. The Call to Make Room for Christ in Our Hearts

If thou hast but room for Christ he will come and be thy guest.

No room in the world. Just as there was "no room for them in the inn" at Bethlehem, Christ often finds no room in the palaces of power, forums of political discussion, "good society," marts of commerce, or even the schools of philosophers and religious institutions. The world, preoccupied with its own affairs, frequently excludes the Prince of Peace.

Room in the humble heart. Despite the world's rejection, Christ seeks a dwelling place in humble and contrite spirits. The question for each individual is, "Have you room for Christ?" It's not about worthiness or a perfectly clean heart, for the manger itself was an unfit place. If one's heart, however messy or sinful, has room, Christ will come and transform it into a "golden throne."

Immediate acceptance. The call to make room for Jesus is urgent, not to be delayed. "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." If one opens the door of their heart and invites Jesus, he will come, cleanse it, and abide forever, making it a "heaven of joy and bliss." Our emptiness, lack of feeling, or want of grace are not barriers, but rather create the very "room" he desires to fill.

11. The Transforming Power of Beholding Christ's Glory

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

God's ultimate disclosure. The birth of Christ is the ultimate revelation of the "glory of the Lord," a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. While God's glory is seen in creation and hinted at in the shekinah, it is in Christ that God "shouts" his reality. Jesus is the "radiance" and "express image" of God's glory, making God's character and attributes fully manifest in a personal way.

Transformation through gazing. The New Testament teaches that as believers, with unveiled faces, we behold the glory of the Lord in Christ "as in a mirror." This act of gazing upon him, understanding his divine nature and purpose, initiates a process of spiritual transformation. We are progressively changed into his image, moving "from glory to glory" by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christ in us. This transformation is not merely an external change but an internal one, culminating in "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The staggering truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ is not only the glory of the Lord revealed to us and for us, but also revealed in us. This ongoing process of spiritual maturity, driven by beholding Christ's greatness, is the ultimate outcome of his coming.

Last updated: January 20, 2026