Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Sermon Notes

Cotton Hill United Methodist Church

Pastor Michael Madden

November 28, 2021

Below are sermon notes and highlights from our November 28 sermon. You can watch the full message here. Throughout this Advent season, we will explore the important messages found in some of our favorite Christmas hymns. This week’s hymn of focus is “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” which is hymn #196 in The United Methodist Hymnal.

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Main Idea – As we wait for Jesus’ long-expected return, let’s not be overcome by cynicism and despair. Instead, let us renew our hope and faith in the promises of our Redeemer Jesus as we bring Christ into our world daily through our words and actions.

Introduction to Simeon:

In this scripture, Luke focuses his attention on a man named Simeon who was waiting faithfully for the arrival of a long-expected Messiah. Who was Simeon?

·       He was righteous and devout. (Luke 2:25)

·       The Holy Spirit was with him as he waited for the Lord’s promised Messiah to bring consolation or comfort to Israel. (Luke 2:25)

·       He was promised he wouldn’t die before seeing the Messiah. (Luke 2:26)

·       He represented the hope of many who were waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled.

Promises in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Verse 1)

·       “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.”

Seeing Advent Through Three Perspectives

Advent is a season of expectant waiting when we prepare our hearts for God’s rule in them as we wait for Jesus. Like Charles Wesley, the writer of this hymn, we look at Advent through three perspectives today.

·       We look back at Israel’s longing for a Messiah.

·       W look back on Jesus’ arrival on the first Christmas.

·       We look forward to Jesus’ promised second coming.

As Simeon waited for the arrival of the promised Messiah, it was really just that first one that shaped his waiting. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

Simeon’s Waiting

·       Simeon’s waiting must have been difficult. Around him, he saw corruption, political oppression, violence, injustice, and poverty.

·       We can imagine how he and others might have been tempted to give in to despair or give up hope. We understand how difficult it is to keep hope alive when we witness those same things in our world today.

·       But Simeon kept hope alive, and when the Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go into the temple courts, he went.

In the Temple Courts

·       When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple courts, Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

·       Simeon grabbed Jesus in his arms and praised God in a scripture that has become known as the Song of Simeon in Luke 2:29-32.

·       Then Simeon blessed the family and warned Mary about the conflict and pain that Jesus’ life and ministry would bring.

·       Simeon departs.

Promises Fulfilled in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Verse 2)

In the second verse of our hymn of focus, Charles Wesley does a good job of bringing two worlds together. He takes Israel’s expectation of a coming Messiah and shows those expectations fulfilled in Jesus.

·       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.

Our Savior was born a child, yet a king. A king sent to bring God’s kingdom into our world and rule in our hearts forever. A king sent to save us through his merit, not our own.

We Are Waiting

Just like Simeon, we are waiting. We’re in kind of a weird place in our waiting because we know that Christ has been born. We know that Jesus has suffered and died for our sins, and we know that he rose again. But even with those promises fulfilled, we’re still waiting for the day when his final promise is fulfilled, and Jesus returns in final victory.

That’s what this season of Advent is about. It’s about expectant waiting. During this season, we prepare our hearts for God’s rule in them as we remember that Christmas day long ago when God fulfilled a long-awaited promise as Jesus came into our world. But we also anticipate the fulfillment of another promise when Christ comes in final victory. And we ask God to come into our hearts daily and fill them with the hope, love, joy, and peace of Christ so that we may love others as he has loved us. We seek strength and courage from the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives so that we may make God’s grace available to others by sharing the gift of Jesus Christ with them.

So, how do we wait well?

1.    Be Aware of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives

a.     Like Simeon, listen to the Holy Spirit.

b.    Let the Spirit strengthen, guide, comfort, and convict you.

c.     Move when the Spirit prompts you to move.

2.    Be the Light of Hope in Our World

a.     Followers of Christ have been given a light to shine on all of God’s creation.

b.    We’re not just called to shine the light. We’re called to become the light. In Acts 13:47, Paul and Barnabas, on one of their missionary journeys, proclaimed, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

c.     Just as Jesus became God’s love and hope in the flesh when he came into the world, we are to be God’s love and hope in our world today.

d.    Be like Jesus to all people.

3.    Expect Conflict and Setbacks

a.     Simeon foreshadowed the opposition that Jesus’ ministry would bring. (Luke 2:34-35)

b.    At times, the pain and brokenness of this world will pierce our hearts and souls and threaten to destroy our hope.

c.     But we can find consolation and comfort in the promises of God that have been fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

d.    We can look forward confidently to the day when God’s final promise will be fulfilled as Jesus returns in final victory.

Conclusion

I said earlier that we’re in a weird place as we wait for the fulfillment of that final promise, but we’re also in the best place because the victory’s already been won. Jesus has come into our world as a child and a king. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he has delivered us release from fear and sin. He’s given us a place to rest in him, and as he fulfilled those promises, he’s given us hope that he will come again.

If this world has made you weary, I encourage you to renew your hope this Advent season. Hope not only that Jesus will return in final victory. Hope not only that one day we will live forever with him in God’s glorious kingdom. But hope that God’s Spirit will rule in our hearts as we become a light to all the people of the world. A light that will reveal God’s hope, love, joy, and peace found in the birth of our long-expected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.