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.
The opening lines of this historic Advent hymn beautifully capture the longing and anticipation of the coming Messiah. Written by prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley in 1744, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” is a poignant reflection on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The hymn takes inspiration from Scripture passages like Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 11, which foretell the coming of a divine savior.
As we enter the Advent season, this hymn invites us to connect our own longing for salvation and peace to the ancient longing for the arrival of God’s promised Messiah. At Christmas, we celebrate the grand fulfillment of these Messianic prophecies, rejoicing that Jesus has come to “set Thy people free.”
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King. Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
Charles Wesley artfully combines references to the nativity story and the eternal reign of the risen Christ. Jesus was born in the humblest of circumstances in a manger. Yet, angels heralded his birth as the arrival of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). This child in swaddling clothes is also the divine King, destined to “reign in us forever” when he establishes his eternal Kingdom.
At Christmastime, we should marvel at this glorious mystery as the angels, shepherds, and wise men did many years ago. God chose to become incarnate, being “born a child” so that through his suffering and resurrection, he might defeat sin and death and “reign in us forever.” Let us respond to this amazing grace that appeared as a babe on that first Christmas morning!
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone. By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Wesley closes with a beautiful prayer, inviting Jesus to dwell and rule within our hearts through the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is “by Thine all sufficient merit”—referencing Jesus’ sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection—that we are redeemed and made right with God. The incarnation ushers in the promise of mankind being raised to dwell eternally with Christ when we worship at His “glorious throne.”
At Christmas, let Charles Wesley’s powerful lyrics deepen your wonder at the miracle of Jesus coming to rescue humanity. Join Christians across centuries and around the globe this Advent season singing in joyful hope, “Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free!”
Josh Cehulik 