Third Sunday in Advent

The people of Israel we no different. They were expecting God through his Messiah to restore Israel to its former glory as in the days of kings David and Solomon or at least of the Maccabees. Some were even hoping the Messiah would usher in the Last Day when all things would be restored. God, they all felt, needed to make Israel great again.

Reading the story of Israel in the Old Testament, there’s a common theme that appears again and again: God does not always act in ways people expect. When God delivered Israel from slavery, he chose Moses not while he was prince in Egypt but when he was reduced to working as shepherd. When God delivered Israel from the Midianites, he chose Gideon, the least important member of the least important family of his tribe. When God delivered Israel from their enemy Goliath, it was not by an armed warrior, but by David, a shepherd boy with a sling-shot. And when God spoke to his prophet Elijah at Mount Horeb, it was not in the wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but in a still small voice. Finally, when God would bring ultimate deliverance to his people—and to all people—it would be in a way that many were not readily expecting.

Expecting God’s Actions to fit our Agenda

The people of Israel expected God’s reign to come in a way that was irresistible.

Some, like the Zealots, expected deliverance from Roman occupation and a return to Israel of political independence.

Some, like the Essenes, expected a final eschatological judgment in which all sinners, both inside and outside Israel, would be condemned and the righteous glorified.

Generally, it was expected that when the Messiah did come, God would restore Israel to its former glory.

John the Baptist foretold judgment by which the one coming after him would cut down the fruitless trees and separate the wheat from the chaff.

We might sometimes find ourselves with expectations that differ, and might find it surprising that God is acting in ways we do not expect.

If Jesus is the Christ, why hasn’t he restored all things?

If Jesus is the Christ, why do his followers continue to suffer persecution in this age?

If Jesus is the Christ, why would he allow this COVID virus to exist?

We all continue to deal with the effects of sin—blindness, disease, separation, death—and may not experience healing this side of eternity.

Expecting to be impressed by the humble servant, Jesus

Jesus came to save us from sin and its effects.

Our main problem is sin and rebellion against God.

The miracles Jesus performed—blind receiving sight, lame walking, lepers being cleansed, deaf hearing, the dead being raised, and the poor being evangelized—show that Jesus came to undo sin and its effects (v 5).

Perhaps this should have been expected by the people, for in this Jesus fulfilled many of God’s promises made through the prophet Isaiah.

That God would save through Jesus’ humble service, suffering, and death is perhaps most unexpected . . . yet also most wonderful.

For those to whom God’s reign in Jesus comes, there is now forgiveness, new life, and salvation.

John the Baptist will have to be content with this Word from Christ, that the Good News is being proclaimed.

And the Gospel continues to call us to faith and new life in Jesus.

Those who believe in Jesus are blessed (Matt. 11:6), and the least person in the kingdom of heaven is great because we experience God’s saving grace now in Jesus Christ our Lord (v 11).

Jesus will return to restore all things on the Last Day.

On that Day, the judgment foretold by John will fully come to pass.

On that Day, God’s people will experience full restoration where the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead rise to eternal life.

It’s comforting to see how Jesus proves himself faithful to his prophet John while John is in prison. Jesus encourages John by directing him to the works of salvation, healing, and restoration he’s performed.

Jesus’ Works of Salvation Show That He Is the Promised Christ, the Coming One.

All this encourages us today as we experience the salvation of God in Jesus Christ even as we also long for the restoration of all things that is yet to come. In the Epistle today, James encourages us to be patient as we await Jesus’ return. As we consider the works of Christ, we have cause for such patience as we wait for God to fulfill all his promises and to restore all things. He has promised this, and so this is the Great Expectation.