One of my favorite hymns is Charles Wesley’s, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (#196 in The United Methodist Hymnal). The first stanza reads:

“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.”

Joseph P. Lash tells a wonderful story about Eleanor Roosevelt in his biography of the great stateswoman. She was advanced in years and not well; but, she continued to fulfill a busy schedule of appointments. She had agreed to address a meeting in Harlem and it would have been understood if she failed to appear. When she arrived at the hall where she was to speak, the hostess met her at curbside with the words, “I didn’t think you would come.” Mrs. Roosevelt looked at her and replied, “I had to come; I was expected.”

Jesus had to come that first Christmas because he was expected. The People of God were expecting a Messiah. And, God wanted to make God’s unconditional love for us known through human flesh and blood.

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The Expected One from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.