As we move through this Advent season and look at how God’s people waited with expectancy and hope for the Messiah’s first advent, let’s also remember that WE wait with expectancy and hope for His second advent. Jesus was born as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah that silent night in Bethlehem, fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies. But other prophecies are yet to be fulfilled and won’t until His return in triumph on the Last Day. It is for that return that we live in expectation.
Charles Wesley captured this dual-waiting in his hymn, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
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.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Jesus was born to deliver His people, to usher in the Kingdom of God. And while He did that, the Kingdom will not be fulfilled until His return. Then we will be raised to His glorious throne. We live in the tension of already/not yet. Christ’s Kingdom has already come, but it is not yet complete. But according to Hebrews, we can find our hope for His second advent in all that He accomplished in the first advent.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19–25
Christ’s death on the cross gives us access to God that His people did not have previously. His ascension to the right hand of the Father gives us a High Priest like no other, willing and able to speak to God on our behalf. God delivered on all His promises so far, He is faithful to deliver on Christ’s promised return. That’s something we can have confidence in, something we can put our hope in!
When Christ was born, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
When He returns and ushers in the new earth, we will get to join with the angels and sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)
Family Discussion Questions
What do you think is going to be the best thing about Jesus coming back?
Is there anything about Jesus’s second coming that scares you or makes you nervous?
