Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Question: What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ? 

Answer: He is our Mediator and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God my sin, in which I was conceived and born. 

(Heidelberg Catechism Question & Answer 36)

During this Holiday Season, I am reminded of one of my favorite Christmas Songs "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus".  I have been rehearsing this particular lyric in my heart on repeat: 

"Come to Earth to taste our sadness, He whose glory knows no end. By His life He brings us gladness, Our Redeemer! Shepherd! Friend! Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall. This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born Lord of all" 

"Come to Earth to taste our sadness, He whose glory knows no end."

In times of deep distress the overarching theme for me has been the kindness and the humanity of Christ. He came to earth to taste our sadness. He left glory to become a baby who was born under the law to sympathize with the weaknesses and pain of His creatures. The Lord is not a God who is detached and cruel towards the suffering of His people, but one who has experienced the effects of sin to the fullest. His suffering culminated at the cross where He fully absorbed the wrath of the Father, paying the penalty for our sins.  He tasted sadness and death for us, so that we would never have to experience the true horror of being forsaken by the Father. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" - 2nd. Corinthians 5:21 Isn't that mind boggling? This is a wondrous and ferocious love that leaves you breathless and thankful when you meditate on it. 

"His life brings us gladness."

Christ did not just come to suffer and die. He also came to live in our place. How does his life bring us gladness? His entire life was for us and in our place. He lived obeying the law for us. His active obedience is extended to us as a gift of righteousness, able to withstand judgement. The sting and curse of sin and death has now been swallowed up by His life.  Even now Christ lives and reigns interceding for us before the Father, perpetually hushing the loud voices of Satan's accusations. His life brings us rest because we can finally cease trying to earn God's favor by our attempts to keep the law. Even His conception and innocence covers our sin in the sight of God. (Heidelberg Q&A 36) 

You can be assured that God is more aware of the depth of your sin than you will ever be in this life. Take heart! While this thought is terrifying, we need not fear. We have a perfect Mediator whose life has brought us gladness. He alone understands what it means to be tempted, yet without sin. His righteousness is our cloak. When the Father looks upon us in Christ, He sees His perfect obedience as though we did it ourselves.  Christ's life indeed brings us gladness. 

"He is our Redeemer, Shepherd, and Friend" 

Christ didn't just come to taste our sadness with us without a remedy. He is our Redeemer who is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near Him through faith. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree-" (Galatians 3:13). Christ redeemed us from the penalty of failing to keep the law perfectly by paying that penalty at the cross.  He was raised for our justification, and one day we too will be raised fully redeemed from the consequences of sin. Christ is our Shepherd who lays His life down for us and leads us to green pastures and still waters. He is our friend who bids all the weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find rest. 

It is in Christ's tasting of death and sadness that we have found our life and gladness. Christ is the sure and steadfast anchor to the soul that grounds us to the reality of a world in which God Himself will finally dwell with us. We are His people and He is our God and Father forevermore.  "One day the kindness of King Jesus will undo all of the cruelties that you have experienced in this world" (Nancy Guthrie). Jesus the ultimate expression of the Father's kindness, became flesh for us so that His life will undo all of the cruelty and darkness of sin and death. 

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away..." (Revelation 21:4)