Easter & Unmet Expectations

We all have expectations.

You came to this time with us with expectations. As we gather for hearing the message you have an expectation about what will happen. I do as well. Life is full of expectations.

Sometimes we are disappointed in life.

Life does not go as planned. We are disappointed.

We may feel alone, empty, afraid and unworthy.

I know this is true of me. I wonder if someone here this morning could say the same thing.

Where do you go with your pain?

Or to ask it differently: “what do you do with your pain?”

Easter speaks to unmet expectations.

In reality it isn’t just easter but all of Scripture talks about how normal people deal with expectations of God. What Easter proves is that Christ is above all and speaks to our expectations if we allow him to. It speaks to the pain associated with all that happens when life doesn’t go as planned.

Easter was not supposed to happen.

None of the disciples really thought what we celebrate this day would happen. We find as we open the pages of the Gospels that not one of the disciples really thought this day would happen. Jesus was not supposed to die.

Have you been disappointed by faith, religion, or the Church?

For some of you watching and here this morning the answer is a resounding “yes”.

Mary went to the tomb with her pain.

Mary went early, along with others according to the Gospels.

Peter, John and others stuck together in pain.

Whether they were in the same house huddling in fear I do not know, but I know they did not desert one another.

Sometimes our expectations need to be unmet.

This is a hard truth. I do not like this statement but if you will stick with me this morning you may realize sometimes our expectations are unrealistic, not for the best, and can get in the way of true life.

Believing the truth heals.

Our expectations are not always what is best nor the truth. Sometimes we need our expectations unmet. John sees the “little” things and knows the story is not over yet. John, the beloved disciples sees and believes. He allows the “new reality” heal his pain of unmet expectations.

Easter enters our pain.

Mary is greeted with a pastoral and compassionate question by the angels. The pain of past hurt. The pain of a broken relationship. The pain of death. The pain of sickness. Easter enters into that pain. Easter speaks to this situation. In fact, Easter gives us the only hope possible this morning for our pain.

Jesus speaks your name.

Here he does it to Mary, saying “Miriam” her Hebrew name.

Jesus allows us to embrace Him.

Jesus doesn’t just speak our name and then leaves us alone. He wants us to be close to him. This means bringing our future pain and hurt. Our future unmet expectations.

Jesus overcomes our pain.

Jesus touches our pain and offers healing.

Jesus sends us on mission.

The statement to Mary is what we offer to others. Hope. Peace. Adoption.

Will you let Jesus in, today?

Into your expectations. Life. Relationships.

This is the Easter invitation. It is also our hope. Jesus can handle our pain, our shame and redeem it.