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Saturday, November 27, 2010

"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus!"

I like the word, anticipation, don't you? Mr. Webster said it means "to look forward to, especially with pleasure." We see an excellent example of it, I think, in the eyes of the little children as they look forward to Christmas morning. They can "just hardly wait!"  In Genesis 3, after walking in sweet communion with their Creator and God, Adam and Eve fall to temptation and sin and we hear the dreaded word, curse, for the first time. From the first Book of the canon of Scripture to the last, we see the fall's consequences and Malachi ends his revelation with the same word, curse.

The theme would be depressing were it not for the promise all through the O.T. Scriptures, even beginning in that same sad chapter of Genesis 3, where the curse has been pronounced. Read these words with me in verse 15:"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Yes, Satan would spell suffering but there was One Who would land the crushing and fatal head wound to our old nemesis- Praise the Name of Jesus!

When God spoke to Malachi and he penned those last words, there was a 400 years' silence and I am sure some of the Jews became weary yet some remained watchful, believing the words of the prophecy that Messiah would come. "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14   In 1744, Charles Wesley wrote one of his more than 1655 hymns and maybe voiced what many of the Jewish people were feeling in their hearts. "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.  Born Thy people to deliver, Born a Child, and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring."

I rejoice this morning to know that although that period from Malachi to Matthew is known as the silent period, that God was not asleep nor silent (neither is He in our lives although it may seem like a long time) but sovereignly governing His gracious plan for the ages and when the N. T. writings open, Matthew pens "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham."  Yes, yes, dear one, He came just as He promised- we are about to begin the month where His birth is celebrated or I probably should backtrack and submit that the world has little idea why they are celebrating Christmas and we who believe by faith in Christ and His finished work, celebrate Him and His sacrifice January through December. We love and worship Him every day for He alone is worthy!!   Remember, weary and anticipating Saint- as Israel languished for 400 years awaiting the Promise, Christian pilgrims have been waiting now for over 2000 years for His next return. We groan because of the curse yet we rejoice because of Christ Who bore that curse for us on the cruel cross of Calvary and we sing too the words "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus", along with John who ends the Book of the Revelation with the words "Even so, come Lord Jesus!"  He will- His promises never fail- BLESS HIS NAME!  "I can hardly wait!"

Anticipating and looking up, Deborah

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