COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Hymns of Christmas Series
Galatians 4:4–5
Today we continue our series, The Hymns of Christmas. We aren’t preaching the lyrics of these hymns—we’re preaching the Scriptures behind the hymns. And one of the most overlooked Christmas hymns was written by Charles Wesley in 1744:
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”
Wesley wrote it in a season of spiritual hunger and societal hopelessness. Poverty was rampant. Social unrest was everywhere. Religion was common, but the power of God was absent in the hearts of many. His hymn cried out for what people desperately needed:
“Born to set Thy people free.”
For centuries, God’s people longed for a Redeemer—from Adam and Eve to Malachi, the message was the same:
“One day He will come.”
And in Galatians 4, Paul tells us exactly how that longing was fulfilled:
Politically, it was the right time.
Prophetically, it was the right time.
Spiritually, it was the right time.
Personally—for sinners everywhere—it was the perfect time.
1. The Expectation
(Galatians 4:3–4)
The word “but” in verse 4 tells us something came before. Verse 3 says humanity was in bondage—Jews under the law, Gentiles under sin.
The world was starving for hope.
Then, suddenly, God declared:
“The fullness of time is now.”
Every expectation met. Every prophecy aligned. Every heart hungering for a Savior.
Christmas begins with a longing—for a Redeemer who could fix the mess man had made.
2. The Incarnation
(Galatians 4:4)
Paul writes that Jesus was “made of a woman.” At first glance the phrase is unusual—why not “made of a man”? Because the virgin birth is being protected in the very wording.
He came through a woman, but His Father was heavenly.
The eternal Creator took on the form of His own creation.
The timeless One stepped into time.
The Infinite became an infant.
He had eternally existed with the Father, yet He chose to become human—for us.
He came through a virgin womb, into poverty, into weakness, into vulnerability.
Being “made of a woman” allowed Him to be what we are, that He might redeem what we are.
3. The Redemption
(Galatians 4:5)
Wesley wrote of Jesus as:
“Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art.”
The incarnation was not the mission—redemption was the mission.
Why redemption?
Because humanity had a law it could not keep.
Paul explains that salvation was promised before the law was ever given:
The law was never meant to save—it was meant to expose sin.
The law revealed our guilt.
Christ came to remove it.
And the result?
At just the right time, Jesus came to buy us back, rescue us, and bring us into the family of God.
Conclusion
The more layers we peel back from the Christmas story, the more we see how deeply God loves us.
If you’re reading this today, hear this clearly:
God loves you.
Jesus is the answer to the longing in your heart.
The world has always longed for a Messiah—Someone who could:
Wesley ended his hymn with this glorious hope:
“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.”
The world waited for His first coming.
We now wait for His second.
If He kept His promise the first time—and He did—
He will keep His promise the second time.
Don’t risk your soul on the temporary things of this world.
He who shall come will come.
May He find us ready.
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus!
Hymns of Christmas Series
Galatians 4:4–5
Today we continue our series, The Hymns of Christmas. We aren’t preaching the lyrics of these hymns—we’re preaching the Scriptures behind the hymns. And one of the most overlooked Christmas hymns was written by Charles Wesley in 1744:
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”
Wesley wrote it in a season of spiritual hunger and societal hopelessness. Poverty was rampant. Social unrest was everywhere. Religion was common, but the power of God was absent in the hearts of many. His hymn cried out for what people desperately needed:
“Born to set Thy people free.”
For centuries, God’s people longed for a Redeemer—from Adam and Eve to Malachi, the message was the same:
“One day He will come.”
And in Galatians 4, Paul tells us exactly how that longing was fulfilled:
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son…”
Politically, it was the right time.
Prophetically, it was the right time.
Spiritually, it was the right time.
Personally—for sinners everywhere—it was the perfect time.
1. The Expectation
(Galatians 4:3–4)
The word “but” in verse 4 tells us something came before. Verse 3 says humanity was in bondage—Jews under the law, Gentiles under sin.
The world was starving for hope.
- The prophets foretold His coming.
- The sacrifices foreshadowed His coming.
- The people prayed for His coming.
Then, suddenly, God declared:
“The fullness of time is now.”
Every expectation met. Every prophecy aligned. Every heart hungering for a Savior.
Christmas begins with a longing—for a Redeemer who could fix the mess man had made.
2. The Incarnation
(Galatians 4:4)
Paul writes that Jesus was “made of a woman.” At first glance the phrase is unusual—why not “made of a man”? Because the virgin birth is being protected in the very wording.
He came through a woman, but His Father was heavenly.
The eternal Creator took on the form of His own creation.
The timeless One stepped into time.
The Infinite became an infant.
“God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.”
He had eternally existed with the Father, yet He chose to become human—for us.
He came through a virgin womb, into poverty, into weakness, into vulnerability.
Being “made of a woman” allowed Him to be what we are, that He might redeem what we are.
3. The Redemption
(Galatians 4:5)
Wesley wrote of Jesus as:
“Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art.”
The incarnation was not the mission—redemption was the mission.
“To redeem them that were under the law…”
Why redemption?
Because humanity had a law it could not keep.
Paul explains that salvation was promised before the law was ever given:
Galatians 3:17 –
“The covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law… cannot disannul.”
The law was never meant to save—it was meant to expose sin.
Galatians 3:19 –
“It was added because of transgressions…”
The law revealed our guilt.
Christ came to remove it.
And the result?
“…that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
At just the right time, Jesus came to buy us back, rescue us, and bring us into the family of God.
Conclusion
The more layers we peel back from the Christmas story, the more we see how deeply God loves us.
If you’re reading this today, hear this clearly:
God loves you.
Jesus is the answer to the longing in your heart.
The world has always longed for a Messiah—Someone who could:
- change our hearts,
- forgive our sins,
- and relocate our eternal destination.
Wesley ended his hymn with this glorious hope:
“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.”
The world waited for His first coming.
We now wait for His second.
If He kept His promise the first time—and He did—
He will keep His promise the second time.
Don’t risk your soul on the temporary things of this world.
He who shall come will come.
May He find us ready.
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus!
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
April
2025
November
Categories
no categories
No Comments