Embracing the Friction: Jesus doesn't meet our expectations

**short break in the family night posts. Christi will post one later today**

Easter is close and what a momentous time. I was just listening to a teaching over Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey a week before he was crucified (Mark 11:1-11) and was hit with a powerful truth. Jesus doesn't meet our expectations. Here are a few quick context bits on this story.

Israel was longing for the promised Messiah. They were looking for a military leader to lead the revolt to end the control of Rome. These were tense times in Israel. (In just 40 years from this passage, Israel was in full rebellion and they would see the complete destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.)
Jesus and the Jews were intimately familiar with the prophets. In Mark 14:27, Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 when prophesying his upcoming death. In Jesus entry into Jerusalem, He has His disciples get a colt. Zechariah 9:9-10 prophesies this very thing.

I always wondered how these people could be shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” then ONE week later they are shouting, "Crucify Him!" Jesus had finally come out and said, "I am the Messiah." by riding that donkey into Jerusalem. People heard about it and were pumped. The miracle worker and great teacher is going to lead us out of the rule of Rome. They came out and put branches and cloaks on the road praising Jesus. But when Jesus gets there...nothing. No speech! No big rally! He looks around and leaves. Wow, talk about anti-climatic...and, I am guessing, quite dis-heartening to the excited crowd.

Expectations can be a dangerous thing. Jesus was the Messiah, the one all of Israel was looking for, but they could not see him because of their expectations. Not only that, but they turned against him when He did not fit their expected Messiah. Wow, this sounds too familiar. We are a culture that puts our own expectations on God, and when they are not met, we resent or run from God. Nice reminder from the happenings of Palm Sunday. It is not circumstances or personal agendas we expect God to work out according to our desires. It is God Himself we expect. Jesus is Lord! That far exceeds our highest expectations.