Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus is a collection of thoughts, sermons and writings from various people of the Christian faith. They range from the ancient, Saint Augustine to the contemporary, with people like Joni Erickson Tada. The intent is to focus on Advent and the coming celebration of Christmas. Certainly the list of names in the collection is enough to catch most anyone’s attention and the quick reads make each entry easy to read at a sitting. There are 22 readings, certainly something that could be done daily during the Advent season.
Each one of these Godly men and women bring their own unique perspective on various aspects of the Christmas season. More than one emphasized the amazing Glory of God packaged into a human form, totally beyond comprehension. The shock of a young Mary encountering Gabriel and simply, humbly submitting to what God had ordained for her, totally trusting that though God made it clear this wasn’t going to be easy, that God would ultimately be glorified through her. J.C. Ryle’s contrasts the humble people (and magi) who went and obeyed, with the important people, for instance those who surrounded King Herod, that knew something spectacular had happened in Bethlehem, and could tell the wise men and the King himself that a great King had just been born in Bethlehem, but, they never went. Certainly this is a great example of people with the ‘head knowledge’ of Christ, and understands what Messiah means, but not the commitment to live a life dedicated to the king.
Francis Schaeffer gives the same challenge in different language, “... we set up our Christmas trees and toy trains. We may even walk along singing carols, or we may preach a sermon, but these bits and pieces are barren if we are thinking only of them or even thinking only of being in heaven, and are not stopping to ask ourselves, ‘What difference does it make in my life now?’” Each writer in their own way is asking us to contemplate the Advent season, and challenges the reader to do something. Certainly if we give any thought to God coming to earth in a low, humble fashion, we should be changed in how we lead our daily lives.
I have been involved in Evangelical churches for many years, and the way Christmas just sneaks up on me is horrible. I know that Christmas is coming, from the way the crowds in shopping centers move with renewed purpose (sometimes aggressive purpose), but it is rare that I take the time to renew my purpose. Pausing and reading this collection of writings is a helpful way to renew the reason for Christmas, and hopefully refresh my walk with a Savior that came to be part of the human race and still was fully God 2,000 years ago.
Reviewed by Ted Anderson
