Unmet Expectations

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It is the day in history that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the coming King who would ride into town on a donkey. They took their palm leaves and waved them shouting Hosanna. They believed he was in fact THE long awaited coming king and their expectation was that he would set up a kingdom on the Earth. The oppressed Jews looked forward to it with great anticipation. The disciples were confident they were going to be part of an earthly, tangible kingdom as well. I feel sure that many on the first palm Sunday were confident that Christ was the prophesied king, the one to come and undo the oppression of the Jewish people who were fighting Roman rule during that time.

I couldn’t help but think of the times that I had been in joyous celebration, one week, and felt as though I had been handed a blow to the gut the next week. Perhaps the disciples and many Jews confidence built over the next week as they heard both the Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as the Roman government affiliates, whisper concerns regarding heavens kingdom coming. They all knew Jesus was the man for this. It was after all the Passover season and would be perfect timing. It was the season where Moses had led out the oppressed Israelites from the tyrannical Egyptian government. It was the time of Passover, the Red Sea crossing, and utter deliverance. The timing for rescue lined up with history, a history they all knew very well.

I can imagine the whispers, the dinner conversation surrounding the hopeful deliverance.

I can also imagine the disappointment and devastation as Christ was chosen over Barabbas to be crucified. How confused they all must have been. They had faith for it. They believed in Christ’s earthly kingdom being established so much so that they had argued over who would set at his right hand.

Although none of us were there physically that day, we’ve all been “there” in our hearts. We believed and had faith for something. We expected an answer and had the solution figured out. Perhaps, we like both Mary’s (Matthew 27:61) watched as the thing we had all hope in was buried. We had unmet expectations and the sorrow was deep and the pain deeper. They had watched Christ raise Lazarus from the dead and yet here he was, a little over a week later, being buried himself.

As both Marys watched Jesus be buried that fateful day, they had no idea that Sunday was coming. They did not know or understand that the preparations were at hand for a kingdom bigger and larger than they could dream of. They had no comprehension of the eternal kingdom that had been buried and would spring to life in just a few days.

There Was no concept of what was being conquered and overcome. It looked like death and devastation. Unmet expectations.

I am not sure what you are believing for today. I’m not sure what hope you have watched die. I’m not sure what you have stood by and watched as it got buried. I do not know what unmet expectations you carry. I am sure though that the whirlwind feelings of those unmet expectations and the cut of losing hope is something we have all experienced in our walk at one point or another. Rest assured your Sunday is coming.

Both Mary’s watched as their hopes and dreams were buried. And they both were there when their hopes and dreams were resurrected that first Easter morning. The kingdom looked different, just as our answer may look different than our expectations. Just as you were there when those expectations were buried, by His goodness, you will be there when it is resurrected. Hold on, your Sunday is coming.