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As you all know, the last Presidential election was one of the most interesting and controversial elections in our lifetime—and I’d bet this next election cycle will be more interesting than the last.
You all know the slogan from the last election, “Make America Great Again.”
The thought was that the United States was once an industrial, economic, and military powerhouse respected by its allies and feared by its enemies but has now fallen and lost its way.
It needs a leader to bring it back to its former glory.
In first-century Israel, many Jews had a similar expectation.
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 with a sling.
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.
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.
You see,
4.
Many in Israel expected God to act in certain ways.
CONFUSION OVER JESUS’ MISSION
MANY EXPECT GOD TO ACT IN CERTAIN WAYS
Many in Israel expected God to act in certain ways.
The people of Israel expected God’s reign to come in a way that was irresistible.
Many in Jesus’ day had the wrong ideas
Some, like the Zealots, expected deliverance from Roman occupation and a return to Israel of political independence.
(1) Some, like the Zealots, expected deliverance from Roman occupation and a return to Israel of political independence.
About Jesus’ Messianic ministry;
About John’s prophetic ministry.
(2) 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.
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.
Even John appeared not to be sure.
(3) Generally, it was expected that when the Messiah did come, God would restore Israel to its former glory.
Many today misunderstand the coming of Christ and thus the very essence of Christmas as well.
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.
b.
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.
They have their own ideas and misconceptions without ever hearing Jesus’ own words.
IN JESUS, GOD ACTED IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY
3. In Jesus, God acted in a way that was unexpected.
They hear Jesus’ words but stumble on the call to humbly confess that we ALL are the “poor in spirit.”
Jesus’ proclamation of the Good News and his call to repentance could be resisted.
(1) On the one hand, the demons and the forces of nature did obey Jesus’ word and command.
On the one hand, the demons and the forces of nature did obey Jesus’ word and command.
CLARIFICATION OF JESUS’ TRUE MESSIANIC MISSION.
Yet many people rejected his words and did not believe.
His life and “works” bear witness to His grace and power over life and death.
(2) Yet many people rejected his words and did not believe.
(3) The parable of the sower explains this: Though Jesus’ words have power to create faith and new life, hearers can reject it and not believe.
His mission is to “evangelize” the poor, to bring the Good News of forgiveness and life.
The parable of the sower explains this: Though Jesus’ words have power to create faith and new life, hearers can reject it and not believe.
Rather than being irresistible, the reign of heaven would actually suffer violence.
His kingdom is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy; He is the prophetic Word made sure.
b.Rather than being irresistible, the reign of heaven would actually suffer violence.
John the Baptist, though he was the messenger proclaimed by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi, was in prison and would finally be executed.
(1) John the Baptist, though he was the messenger proclaimed by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi, was in prison and would finally be executed.
CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS OUR COMING ONE.
We, too, misunderstand and perhaps expect the wrongs things of our coming King.
Jesus himself would be rejected and crucified.
(2) Jesus himself would be rejected and crucified.
Thus, sinfully “poor in spirit,” we, too, receive the Good News that Christ, a Savior, is born.
(3) And Jesus warns his disciples that they, too, can expect persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
Thus, sinfully “poor in spirit,” we, too, receive the Good News that Christ, a Savior, is born.
And Jesus warns his disciples that they, too, can expect persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
(4) As Jesus says, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (v 12).
The message of the kingdom of God continues to come to us whenever we confess our spiritual poverty and hear again and again the daily message of forgiveness and life in Christ.
As Jesus says, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (v 12).
Thus, we live in “great expectations” — now in Advent, as we prepare for the true joy of Christmas’ daily in confession and forgiveness; and finally, when our coming One comes again.
The judgment foretold by John will come, but it has been delayed.
(5) The judgment foretold by John will come, but it has been delayed.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS TODAY
2. What are our expectations today?
We might sometimes find ourselves with expectations that differ, and might find it surprising that God is acting in an way we do not expect.
(1) If Jesus is the Christ, why hasn’t he restored all things?
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?
(2) If Jesus is the Christ, why do his followers continue to suffer persecution in this age?
All of us continue to deal with the effects of sin—blindness, disease, separation, death—and may not experience healing this side of eternity.
b.
All of us continue to deal with the effects of sin—blindness, disease, separation, death—and may not experience healing this side of eternity.
THERE IS GRACE IN HOW GOD ACTED—EVEN IF UNEXPECTED— IN THE HUMBLE SERVICE OF HIS SON
1.
Yet there is wonderful grace in how God acted, even if unexpectedly, in the humble service of his Son.
Jesus came to save us from sin and its effects.
Our main problem is sin and rebellion against God.
(1) Israel’s main problem was their 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).
(2) 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.
(3) Perhaps this should have been expected by the people, for in this Jesus fulfilled many of God’s promises made through the prophet Isaiah.
Ultimately, Jesus’ death would serve as a ransom for many ().
(4) Ultimately, Jesus’ death would serve as a ransom for many ().
(5) That God would save Israel and all people through Jesus’ humble service, suffering, and death is perhaps most unexpected . . .
yet also most wonderful.
That God would save through Jesus’ humble service, suffering, and death is perhaps most unexpected . . .
yet also most wonderful.
b.
For those to whom God’s reign in Jesus comes, there is now forgiveness, new life, and salvation.
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