Christ's Coming in Carols: The First Verse

I have to admit: a couple of my favorite Christmas carols have very little to do with the true story of Christmas. Like “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” (classic Nat King Cole). “Silver Bells” (Johnny Mathis, of course!). And this hilarious rendition of “Blue Christmas.” I make sure to listen at least a couple times during December, because each one awakens a fond memory for me.

But many of the Christ-centered carols and hymns are so rich with Truth and Beauty that I never tire of them, in this season or any other. Thanks to my newly tuned piano, I’ve played my favorites – and will continue to play them - more times than my family probably cares to hear them!

My Number One hymn this year is a less common one: Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus. Written by Charles Wesley in 1744, it encompasses the breadth of Jesus’ ministry – not just His birth in a Bethlehem manger, but many of the Messianic prophecies, and the fruit He now bears in the lives of His people.

The first verse alone is packed with Scriptural truth.

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.

Long-Expected: Indeed, the Messiah had been anticipated since the beginning of recorded time! Attentive Bible students can trace Messianic prophecy all the way back to the Garden of Eden. From there, hundreds of passages in the Old Testament point readers to a coming Christ.

Just a sampling:

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called My son."
(Hosea 11:1)

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Judah and the house of Israel ... "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts." (Jeremiah 31:31 & 33)

"Then I will pour out the Spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David ...
and they will look to me, whom they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)

Freedom: He would set His people free not by overthrowing the oppressive Roman rule, much to the dismay of many followers. Instead, He would free all humanity from the most powerful oppressor of all: sin, along with its accompanying fear of death and of the wrath of God, earned by our sin.

Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Rest: Even as we cry out for Him to come, Jesus invites us to come and enter the rest that is found only in Him. His words in Matthew 11:28-29 have to be among the most comforting in all of Scripture:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Consolation: This ancient word means solace or comfort. When Mary and Joseph took their 8-day-old son to the temple to be circumcised, “there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

Surely Simeon found consolation in holding the infant Christ and speaking a blessing upon Him:

“May your servant now depart in peace.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.” (from Luke 2:25-32)

Hope of all the earth: It was Israel, God’s chosen people, who watched and waited for the Messiah. Yet, when Jesus came, He opened the way for all to come to Him, to be reconciled to God through Him. Gentile and Jew, fisherman and soldier, pagan and prostitute, leper and tax collector: the hope Jesus came to offer is for all the earth!

The heir to David’s throne will appear, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; they will put their hope in Him. (Romans 15:12)

Desire of Nations: A prophecy in the book of Haggai gives this name to the anticipated Messiah. 

“They shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:7)

Joy: In Jesus’ final evening with his disciples before his arrest, He shared truths with them, both hard and comforting, that He'd not previously shared. Why? So that they could share in His joy.

Now that we who believe have the gift of His Spirit, Jesus' joy - literally, mysteriously, inexpressibly - lives within us, too.

How can we help but be filled with His joy, as we explore the riches of Christ in these four short lines of song? And that’s only the first verse!

In the remaining 3 verses (I didn’t even know this hymn had 4 verses before today), Wesley’s words exalt Jesus as: our Dayspring, promised Davidic ruler, the One of whom angels sing, the Man who shared our sorrows, full of glory, Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend, Lord of all, Savior, a Child, the King, our Deliverer, Ruler, the One who forever reigns in us by His Spirit.

So, now it’s your turn. Can you locate the Scriptures that informed Charles Wesley as he wrote these verses?

(I promise, with confidence, that you will be enriched as you search God’s Word for your Savior!)

Joy to those who long to see Thee, Dayspring from on high, appear;

Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse, of Thy birth we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth;

“Go to Him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth.”

Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end;

By His life He brings us gladness, our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall;

This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.

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 own sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.

For your listening pleasure: This beautiful rendition includes all four verses of Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus.