Expect Something Better than Your Expectations!

John 14:1-6

The sick were healed, thousands fed, Lazarus raised from the dead - the disciples had to wonder when Jesus would take His position as Deliverer and free the Jews from their Roman oppressors.

That night, though, as they share the Passover meal, Jesus is not behaving as a conquering King. He washes their feet, reveals His imminent betrayal and tells them He is going away. Brave, brash Peter wants to know why he can't follow Jesus and claims, "I will lay down my life for your sake." Willing to follow Jesus where ever that may take him, willing in his heart - but in his flesh he will deny Jesus three times before morning.

Jesus knows His time on earth is near completion. He wants to prepare them for what is about to happen, and give instructions on how to live when He is gone. He knows their hearts are troubled by what they have seen and heard during the evening, and reminds them to believe in Him. When we are troubled and filled with doubt, God's Word calls us to trust Him.

Jesus may be leaving, but He is not forgetting about them. He is going to prepare a place for them in Heaven, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." "Lord, we don't know where You are going", replies Thomas, "and how can we know the way?"

They thought they knew the direction Jesus was headed. They expected Him to set up His earthly kingdom. They hoped to rule with Him. Painful realization was seeping into their hearts - these expectations were not going to be met.

How many times have I prayed and asked God for His will in my situation, expecting His will to align with my plan - finding disappointment when it did not? Perhaps you can relate to this. I've blamed God and accused Him of not listening to, or answering my prayers - especially when I thought I had it all figured out! Forcing things to go my way, though, has only brought more problems and pain. I've found that God's way is always best even if it isn't what I expected.

Jesus goes on to tell His followers that He alone is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. The way to Heaven, and eternal life, something bigger than just setting up an earthly kingdom! But not what they expected...

God has something bigger planned for us than our small expectations can even begin to consider. We need to let go of our expectations and trust Him with our life. When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost, were they still disappointed that their own hopes had failed? No, God's plan far exceeded their past expectations - they were no longer looking toward an earthly kingdom, but a Heavenly one! One that was only possible because of Christ's great sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus - the only way to Heaven, no matter what other expectations you may have!

"My soul wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62:5