Easter Expectations

   This week is Holy Week. It is the week that Christians all over the world celebrate as the week leading up to the passion of Jesus. In other words, this is the week that held the important events leading up to the cross of Christ. Many churches commemorate this time by enacting the sufferings of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. But as I think back over Holy Week, I notice something peculiar. Jesus hardly met anybody's expectations.


   Sunday: Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was an act that spoke to his kingly rule. Kings would ride into their home city to a jubilant crowd riding on a donkey. Little did they know, however, this was not the type of king they were expecting.
   Thursday: Jesus ate the Last Supper with disciples before his crucifixion. It is here that he gave them a "new command" - to love one another. It is here that he demonstrated servant leadership by washing their feet, and told them that whoever is the greatest must be the servant of all. It is here that he prayed the High Priestly prayer for all believers of all time. This was not the type of dinner that they were expecting.

Jesus hardly met anybody's
expectations.

   Friday: Jesus was led to the chief priests and rulers to be tried - quite unfairly, might I add. He was falsely accused. But he didn't defend himself! It almost seemed like he wanted it this way. His disciples knew he was the King of everything, but he let himself be desecrated by unrefined Romans. And then they crucified him! The whole land went dark. The temple veil was torn in half from the top down. They had no idea what was going on. This was not the Passover that they were expecting.
   Sunday: When Mary Magdalene came to embalm the body of Jesus with spices, she was shocked with a sight she didn't remember seeing when she was at the tomb last: wasn't Jesus' body supposed to be in the tomb? Why was the stone rolled away? And as her perplexed mind was groping for something that made sense, the keeper of the grounds walked up to her asking who she was looking for. So she unfolded her grief to this stranger...or was he? When he said "Mary," she knew it was her Jesus! She quickly ran and told the disciples, who did not believe her right away. But when he appeared to them later that day, they knew he was alive! Their Messiah had not taken down the Romans, but he had defeated death.This was not the victory they were expecting.


   So often, in his life, Jesus did not exactly give people what they were expecting. And especially in his death, nothing happened the way anybody expected it to (cf. Isaiah 53:1-3). However, even though Jesus did not act the way people imagined the Messiah would, he did so much more than any one could have ever imagined. And it seems as though that is the way Jesus typically operates in the world still today. For example, when we ask Jesus for a miraculous healing, he heals our motives. When we ask him for a particular product, he gives us contentment. When we ask him for wisdom, he gives us someone in our lives who we are supposed to pour into. When we do not feel like we deserve grace, he makes us to know his love. When we think we cannot go on, he brings encouragement into our lives. When the storm seems too raging, he walks with us through it. Jesus is in the business of shattering expectations. He is too awesome to put in a box. He is the King of the universe, for heaven's sake.


   So this Easter weekend, I hope that you do not get what you expect. I hope that you are not satisfied with answers to your safe prayers. I hope that your expectations are dashed into a thousand pieces, and that you see Jesus for who he truly is. I hope that your worship of him is taken to the next level. I hope that you are not merely satisfied, but blown away with the beauty and majesty and exquisite glory of the One who knows no limitation.