He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” —John 1:41
The Jews were waiting for God’s Messiah but expected He would be a military hero sent to deliver them from political tyranny. When Jesus came, His weapons were humble service, love, and ultimately His death. The Jews, however, expected pomp and circumstance. Because He came without fanfare, they didn’t buy it. They thought it was scandalous that God’s Anointed One would suffer, hang on a cross, and die.
All the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus show that God keeps His promises. He doesn’t always do it in our way or time. Sometimes we have expectations of what Jesus should be like and what He should do. When He doesn’t meet our expectations, we may be tempted to doubt He really is the Lord.
Christ’s rule doesn’t always lead to flamboyant victories or quick fixes. Sometimes He leads us through seasons of struggle, weakness, and hardship. But we can set our hopes on the truth that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Anointed One, who came to deliver His people from sin and death.
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The Wonder of His Name: 32 Life-Changing Names of Jesus ©2014 Revive Our Hearts
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Has there ever been a time when Jesus didn’t meet your expectations? What did God teach you through that experience?