O Come All Ye Faithful | Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: God's first promise: a Savior will crush evil

From the moment sin entered the world God immediately promised a rescue—someone born of a woman who would ultimately bruise the serpent’s head. That proto‑gospel shapes all of Scripture’s forward‑looking hope and shows that redemption was never an afterthought but the foundation of God’s plan. This promise invites the heart to live in anticipation, trusting that evil’s wound is real but not final. [08:14]

Genesis 3:14-15 (ESV)
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Reflection: In what specific area of life do you most feel the “bruise” of sin or brokenness, and how would trusting the promised Savior change the way you face that reality this week?

Day 2: The Messiah bears our suffering and sin

Isaiah 53 paints the portrait of a suffering Servant who takes the weight of the world’s sin, is pierced for transgressions, and through that offering brings healing and righteousness to many. This passage makes clear that the sorrow and rejection experienced by God’s Servant were not meaningless pain but the means of sacrificial rescue. Standing in that truth frees a longing heart to rest in Jesus’ substitutionary love rather than in earthly comforts. [18:14]

Isaiah 53:3-12 (ESV)
3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Reflection: Where do you tend to try to carry the weight of guilt or shame on your own, and what would it look like this week to rest in the Servant who bore that burden for you?

Day 3: Prophets longed and pointed to Christ

The prophets searched and inquired, aware their words looked beyond themselves to the sufferings and the glory of the coming Messiah, speaking for the benefit of future believers. That testimony teaches that the gospel is not a human invention but a revealed, unfolding plan of grace that culminates in Christ. Recognizing this invites gratitude and confidence—faith grounded in historical promises fulfilled. [11:08]

1 Peter 1:10-12 (ESV)
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Reflection: Which promise from the Old Testament most moves you when you see it fulfilled in Jesus, and how can you share that specific promise this week with someone who needs a sure foundation for faith?

Day 4: Virgin birth: God with us, Emmanuel

Isaiah’s sign—that a virgin would bear a son called Immanuel—declares that God would take on human flesh and dwell among his people, not as a distant deity but as Emanuel, God with us. This truth undercuts any notion that salvation is merely moral improvement; it is God entering history to redeem it from within. Let this reality shape how one lives with both wonder and humility in the Christmas season. [14:35]

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Reflection: What would it look like for you, this Advent season, to live as if God is truly “with you” in the ordinary rhythms of your day—meetings, meals, worries—and how might that change one concrete habit or response?

Day 5: God defeats death—hope beyond the grave

Psalm 16’s promise that God will not abandon his holy one to decay points forward to the resurrection and the hope that death does not have the final word. The resurrection proves the victory of Christ and secures eternal life for all who trust in him, turning longing into confident expectation. Celebrate that certainty now and let it reorder fears about time, loss, and the fast passing of life. [24:00]

Psalm 16:10 (ESV)
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Reflection: When the brevity of life makes you anxious, what specific truth about Christ’s resurrection can you meditate on daily, and how will you remind yourself of that truth each morning this week?

Sermon Summary

Christmas matters because it anchors us in the real story of a Savior who actually entered history. As we sing through the season, Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus helps us bring our hunger, our hopes, and our honest longings to the One who fulfills them. The human heart understands anticipation—like a child waiting for gifts—and that small ache points to a far greater, older ache: humanity’s long wait for the Messiah. From the earliest pages of Scripture (Genesis 3), God promised that someone born of a woman would crush the serpent, even at great cost. The prophets wrote and wondered what that would look like, and their words narrow the focus until only one person can possibly fit.

Jesus is not a vague religious option; He is the precise fulfillment of centuries of promises. Born of a virgin in Bethlehem, from Judah’s tribe and David’s house, entering a specific prophetic window, pursued by a murderous king, called out of Egypt, bringing light to Galilee—His life, death, and resurrection fulfill prophecies that predated crucifixion itself. He healed, taught with Spirit-anointed authority, lived without sin, was betrayed, pierced, mocked, buried in a borrowed tomb, and rose—just as foretold. Our faith is not blind; it rests on a God who told us what He would do and then did it in plain sight.

We now live between arrivals. Jesus has come—and He will come again. That means we endure a world where sin’s effects still ache, yet we do not despair; we fix our longing on the One who will finish what He started. The hymn teaches us to pray from both directions: grateful for His first coming and hungry for His return. If you’ve never trusted Him, the invitation is open. No treasure, comfort, or acclaim can quiet the deep ache of your heart—only Jesus can. And if you already belong to Him, let this season lift your eyes: rejoice in what He has done, and lean forward to the day you see Him face to face. Life is brief; hope is near; Christ is worthy of our adoration.

Key Takeaways

1. Advent awakens our deep longing Our seasonal anticipation points to a deeper ache for deliverance and joy that no earthly gift can satisfy. The hymn gives language to name those longings and to direct them toward Christ, not toward distractions. God dignifies our ache by meeting it in the person of Jesus, the desire of every nation and joy of every longing heart. [05:10]
2. Prophecy narrows to one Name Scripture moves from broad promise to laser focus—woman, virgin, Bethlehem, Judah, David, a set historical window—until only Jesus can fulfill it. This isn’t coincidence; it’s God’s intentional breadcrumb trail through history. The convergence of place, lineage, timing, threat, and mission shows divine authorship and Christ’s unique identity. [14:35]
3. Faith is trust with evidence Christian faith rests on God’s track record: He promised, then performed—publicly and precisely—in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Evidence does not eliminate the need for trust, but it gives that trust a sturdy floor. We lean our weight on a Savior verified by prophecy and vindicated by an empty tomb. [24:00]
4. Await the Second Advent well We live in the tension of “already and not yet”: forgiven and adopted, yet still feeling the world’s fractures. Advent trains our hearts to hope wisely—anchored in Christ’s first coming and alert for His return to set the world right. Hope becomes endurance, worship, and faithful presence while we wait. [20:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:21] - Christmas in our culture and calendar
[05:10] - Childlike anticipation and holy longing
[08:14] - The first gospel in Genesis 3:15
[11:08] - Prophets and angels longed to see
[14:35] - Prophecies narrowing: birth and lineage
[18:14] - Life, death, resurrection foretold
[20:52] - Now-and-not-yet hope and return
[24:00] - Only Jesus satisfies our longings
[26:38] - Life is a vapor and closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Genesis 3:14–15
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

- Isaiah 53:3–6
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

- 1 Peter 1:10–12
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in these things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Observation questions

Read Genesis 3:14–15. What promise does God make about the “offspring” and the serpent, and how does that shape the story of hope in Scripture? [08:14]
Read Isaiah 53:3–6. What specific ways of suffering and substitution are described for the servant, and which lines point to both his suffering and his saving work? [18:14]
Read 1 Peter 1:10–12. What does Peter say the prophets were searching for, and how does that claim affect how one reads the Old Testament promises? [11:08]
List the birth‑ and early life details given in the readings and in the talk that narrow the promise to a single person (e.g., born of a woman, virgin birth, Bethlehem, tribe of Judah/house of David, fleeing to Egypt, murderous king). Which of those details would be hardest to invent or fake in history? [14:35]

Interpretation questions

If Genesis 3:15 frames human longing as anticipation of a deliverer, how would that change the way a person understands ordinary longings for comfort, justice, or meaning? [05:10]
The convergence of many prophecies (birthplace, lineage, timing, ministry signs, death and resurrection) is presented as evidence of divine authorship. What does it mean for faith to rest on this kind of historical and prophetic evidence rather than on “blind faith”? [24:00]
The Bible teaches that believers live “already and not yet” (the kingdom is begun but not complete). How should that tension shape a person’s priorities, patience, and daily habits while waiting for Christ’s return? [20:52]
The hymns and readings press both gratitude for what has happened and longing for what is coming. Theologically, how do gratitude and longing belong together in a healthy Christian hope? [20:52]

Application questions

Name one deep longing in your heart that no gift or comfort has satisfied. How will you bring that longing to Jesus this week in specific prayer or Scripture meditation? [05:10]
Identify one friend, neighbor, or coworker who seems hungry but not satisfied. What concrete step will you take in the next two weeks to open a gospel conversation about Jesus as the one who fulfills our deepest longings? [24:00]
Think about the “evidence” for Christ (fulfilled prophecy, resurrection, historical claims). What is one clear, simple way you could point someone to that evidence in a short conversation this month? Who will you practice that with? [24:00]
Living between the comings should produce endurance and worship. Name one specific spiritual habit you will start this Advent (daily Scripture reading, a Psalm each morning, a weekly time of lament and hope, serving someone in need) to keep your hope active and faithful. When will you begin? [20:52]
Choose one verse from the readings (Genesis 3:15 or a line from Isaiah 53) to memorize and meditate on this week. How will that verse help you face a current fear, loss, or temptation? (Write the verse down and set a day this week to review it.) [18:14]
If you have not yet placed your trust in Christ, consider this question: what would it look like for you to take one small step toward him (reading one Gospel chapter, asking a Christian friend to explain the gospel, praying a simple prayer of trust)? Set a reachable step and a time to take it. [24:00]

Sermon Clips

but it's still pretty broad right could be anybody could be any human being but it gets a little more narrow isaiah 7 14 says that this messiah will be born of a virgin okay everybody raise your handnow i know we don't want to think about it but your mom was not a virgin i do hate to break that to you okay so does this prophecy get a bit more narrow like a lot more narrow [00:13:39] (35 seconds) #VirginBirthSign

but you know that could be faked right that could be fabricated it could be a lie covering something up right so maybe could it get a little bit clearer a little bit more narrow okay so this virgin born human would be not just bornanywhere but would need to be born in bethlehem which is a small town the city of david so it can't just be this person can't just be born anywhere this virgin born human has to be born in bethlehem that's pretty narrow right [00:14:13] (38 seconds) #BornInBethlehem

gets a bit more narrow from there this virgin born human who is born in bethlehem must be in the line of judah so not just any jewish person but a person who is jewish andfrom the line of judah and not just judah but the house of david his arrival would occur within the prophetic window told by daniel which is in the era of earthly empires right persia and greece and rome sounding more narrow his birth would be marked with a murderous threat against infants remember the story of herod the [00:14:52] (53 seconds) #LineOfJudah

we live in a period in a time where jesus christ the messiah the only one who could have come and fulfilled all of the prophecies all of the writings and the only one who could have done what was needed so that we could be set free the only one who did what was needed so that what was told in the garden to the serpent would be true the only one who could release us from the captivity that the sinthat we have all committed has placed us in the only one who could bring eternal life jesus he has come [00:20:52] (42 seconds) #JesusFulfilledProphecy

come thou long expected jesus is both a recognition that jesus has come once but it's also a prayer that he would return again and church we live in a day and age that is so special because jesus has already come and we await his second coming and in the meantime he is the joy of our longing hearts for all that is right and that is good [00:22:47] (30 seconds) #AwaitHisReturn

man if you're here today and you do not yet know jesus as your savior the invitationfor you today is that you can put your trust and faith in the only one that could ever come and fulfill all that was necessary so that we could have salvation today you can put your trust in jesus and he will become the joy of your longing heart [00:23:18] (27 seconds) #TrustJesusToday

every single one of us has some sort of longing in our heart that cannot be fulfilled by a red rider bb gun or any other desire that that we may be able to receive inthis life not money not power not fame not glory not peace not comfort not safetynot any of those things can satisfy the longing of the human heart only the one one who was born of a virgin in bethlehem of the line of david from the house of judah who lived a perfect sinless life who died a horrific substitutionary death for you and for me who offers eternal lifethrough faith in him [00:23:45] (62 seconds) #JoyOfLongingHeart

every single one of us has some sort of longing in our heart that cannot be fulfilled by a red rider bb gun or any other desire that that we may be able to receive in this life not money not power not fame not glory not peace not comfort not safety not any of those things can satisfy the longing of the human heart only the one one who was born of a virgin in bethlehem of the line of david from the house of judah who lived a perfect sinless life who died a horrific substitutionary death for you and for me who offers eternal life through faith in him who resurrected from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the father only he can be the joy of your longing human heart and of mine [00:23:45] (79 seconds)

what an incredible privilegeit is to stand where we stand in history the the incredible reality of what jesus has revealed to us through his word about his life his death and his resurrection that we can confidently put our faith it's not blind faith it's not blind trust it's faith with evidence that jesus christ of nazareth the one who came lived died and resurrected can be our savior [00:26:36] (28 seconds) #FaithWithEvidence

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O Come All Ye Faithful | Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: God's first promise: a Savior will crush evil

Day 2: The Messiah bears our suffering and sin

Day 3: Prophets longed and pointed to Christ

Day 4: Virgin birth: God with us, Emmanuel

Day 5: God defeats death—hope beyond the grave

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

O Come All Ye Faithful | Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

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