Incorrect Expectations

Today we will be discussing how Jesus failed to meet the expectations of the Jewish religious leaders and how we fall into the same mindset. Before we get started, let’s spend some time in prayer.

God, be with me today. Open my eyes to the things You want to show me. Allow me to be ready to learn and hear from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 27:39-46 (NLT)

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

The Jewish leaders believed that if Jesus was really the Messiah, He would have been able to save Himself. They expected for Him to just get down from the cross and walk away from the abuse He was enduring. But Jesus didn’t fit into the expectations they had established in their minds. They expected Him to be something that He wasn’t. How often do you create elaborate expectations for the people in your life? Take some time and think about recent examples where this may be happening.

The problem with expectations is that we oftentimes get so wrapped up in the “what ifs” or the “maybes” that we shove a person or situation into a little box. When this happens, we lead ourselves to having those expectations broken and unmet, which leads to disappointment.

Sometimes we even apply this unhealthy practice to our relationship with Jesus. When we start placing expectations on God and push Him into a box, it leads to an unhealthy relationship with Him. God’s plans are vastly greater than ours will ever be; they are far too vast to box up and hold on to. When we do this, it limits our ability to see the fullness of His love for us.

Spend some time thinking about how you might be placing God in a box. How has this affected your relationship with Him or the situation you’re in?

After taking some time to reflect on these thoughts, spend some time in prayer. You can pray on your own or use the following prompts to get you started.

Ask God to forgive you of the times you’ve placed Him in a box of expectations.

Ask Him to reveal unhealthy expectations you have set in your life.

I hope that you are able to experience the fullness of God’s love for you today.