Great Expectations of Trouble (Advent 2, 2023)

John 4:25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”

Everyone in the Jewish and Samaritan communities had expectations of the Messiah. No one expected that He would be such trouble. Except perhaps Simeon who was moved by the Spirit to bless the Christ Child saying,

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke. 2:29-35)

The rising and falling, hearts being revealed! Yes, expectations have a way of closing our minds to ideas other than our preconceived notions. Reading Simeon’s words again, it’s really not a happy blessing even if it was intentionally “From the Jews, for the world.”

Ask any NON-Messianic Jew (not Christian, just Jewish) and they’ll tell you Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because He didn’t usher in the Kingdom the way they thought the Messiah should. There was no ingathering of the exiles, no restoration of Israel’s religious courts, no eternal peace, no justice, no end of wickedness, sin and heresy, no restoration of the line of King David, no rebuilding of Jerusalem, and no restoration of Temple service. And the biggie: He died.

Expectations can be tricky things. So the Jews still wait for someone who looks like the one they were expecting instead of the One who would be such trouble, causing the rising and falling of many in Israel, and division for the whole world.

Questions for further thought:

Think of the cast of individuals in the birth narrative of Jesus Christ. Who among these would have had expectations of how things normally operate and worldview expectations regarding the Messiah?

Mary Luke 1:30-37

Joseph Matthew 1 :18-25

Elizabeth Luke 1:24-25, 36-45

Zechariah Luke 1:8-18

Anna Luke 2:36-39

Simeon Luke 2:30-35

Make no mistake, the Jewish expectation was that the Messiah would be a man born in the usual way and politically rise to lead the nation. From the line of David, the Messiah would be a regular man born from any fertile woman who could have been anybody, then be anointed King for accomplishing the Messianic tasks fully. In what ways did Jesus’ birth (at the very outset) dismantle traditional Jewish expectations?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see with greater clarity the truth of Your words, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34). Expectations of peace on this earth cloud our understanding of the true peace You brought for us with God which will only be realized in the New Heaven and New Earth. May we seek the higher peace, the well-being that only comes from being made right with God through forgiveness of our sins. May we boldly proclaim this as the work You came to do and not shrink in fear because You are seen by the world as both religion and politics. Take our expectations and conform them to the ones which are true and everlasting. In Your mercy, conform us to Your likeness. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.