By the time of Jesus's birth in the first century, the Jews had a diverse understanding of how to live like "watchmen on the walls." The Essences withdrew to cloistered communities; the Pharisees escalated strictness about laws and separation; the Zealots often tried to hasten revolution through violence. But these groups had one thing in common: most expected a kingly Messiah to come suddenly and with great military might, sweeping away the pagan oppressors and raising Israel back to power. (Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb, p.102-103)
I cannot help but compare this description with our day as we view what it is to be a Jesus follower. Some believers withdraw, not wanting to deal with the tension of culture and faith. Some want to create more rules to further define “them” and “us.” Some even try to use religion to claim some kind of high road for involvement at a political and cultural level that doesn’t seem to reflect Jesus at all. Perhaps the common thread is disappointment that Jesus isn’t the kind of Messiah they were hoping for.
I have no moral high ground here. I have to repent when I think about what I want from Messiah. I want to ask Jesus about the disconnect between Emmanuel who came to be among us and the condition of our world. I want Messiah to comfort the victims of abuse and betrayal and hurt. I want cancer to be healed and heart bypasses to be unnecessary and childhood disease to be eradicated. I want powerful people at all levels–politician, boss, pastor, and police to stop using power to marginalize the vulnerable. I want generosity to be the norm for Christians and churches. I want positional leaders–whether hired as CEO denominational leader, elected as a representative, or called as a pastor to lead with integrity and transparency.
In Luke’s gospel the people wondered if he was Messiah because he said in response to their request to be baptized, “bear fruit that lines up with your repentance and confession of faith” (Luke 3:8). Then he described what that fruit would look like:
And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:10-14).
Share of your possessions. Do business with integrity. Do not abuse your power. I feel so vindicated that John the Baptist described the real agenda of the coming Messiah. Those are all characteristics of true discipleship. But I am still wrong to be disappointed with Jesus because these things are not coming to pass. A close Jewish friend told me why she did not accept Jesus as Messiah. She said, “because Messiah is supposed to bring peace and there is no peace in Israel.”
It seems we are disappointed with Jesus when He won’t do what we want Him to do, no matter that some of our expectations are sincere and some of them are selfish. It seems that the real reason for God to send Messiah is that we humans continually want to add layers on top of grace. God sent His only Son because He loved us, that whoever would embrace the story and humbly declare, “I cannot solve my own sin and selfishness problem” – that person would be eternally in God’s presence.
In response to our disappointment, and even to the disciples’ questions about His promised return, Jesus chose to keep it simple. He said we are not to worry about such things (Acts 1:7), but that our mission is to go into all the places we can go and tell the story about Messiah and what He truly came to do. I repent of my misunderstanding and selfish expectations of King Jesus. Messiah has come.
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