By Elizabeth Prata
In 1744 Charles Wesley wrote “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”. It is a beautiful hymn, and one that is played frequently at Christmastime. Jesus promised to come, and He DID come.
His coming was expected. But it was also unexpected.
1. TIME. His coming took a long time, and in the meantime the world was subjected to a global flood which killed all humans except 8; long epochs of the endless cycles of war, peace, famine, drought, plenty; and the creation groaned and still groans. He took a long time to come since the Garden’s promise. The length of time was unexpected But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, (Galatians 4:4)
2. WAY. The manner of His coming was indicated in the Bible but still, when the reality presented itself, the uniqueness of the event was unexpected. A virgin shall conceive? Infinite God pouring Himself into a babe, becoming flesh? Hard to understand, and, unexpected.
3. SERVE. He is King. Kings rule in glorious robes, they don’t get born in a barn among the filthy animals. They don’t arrive impoverished and alone. They don’t get born with no fanfare, trumpets, and heralds announcing it all. And of all people the actual heralds (the angels) appeared to in order to announce the Messiah’s birth- Shepherds?! The lowest of the low. He came to serve, not be served. (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17). All this was unexpected!
4. DEPART. A King rules & reigns as long as he can. He does not abdicate. He stays healthy so he can keep ruling. He produces heirs so he will have his legacy. He doesn’t enter into his kingdom and leave a few short years later. He doesn’t delay coming into his physical kingdom until centuries later. But Jesus did. Even the disciples didn’t quite understand, they asked more than once, “Lord So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). It was unexpected that the kingdom would be spiritual for centuries then physical, later. It was unexpected that Jesus would ascend.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says,
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I am glad for that. I would not respect a god I could figure out, or know more than. He is majestic and inscrutable. However, for all that being true, He deigned to reveal Himself and His plans to us through His prophets and then His written word. We serve a wonderful God!
the-end-time.org 