Expectation

Expectation
A Panacea to a Victorious Christian LifeShow more

The easy part for us to say is our Lord is God manifest in the flesh, the Son of God, the Word incarnate etc, etc. And this is true of Him who brought us reconciliation with God by taking our sins away.

Taking our sin away means He has to go through the cross and that is not an easy thing to do. You are staring death face to face, death on a cross involving torture - a very brutal one, the highest form of punishment of that era with its attendant public humiliation. This is starkly different from dying immediately from gun shot or any other form of instant death. Death on the cross is slow. It is designed to inflict the maximum pain possible on the convict with the aim of gradual death.

How could the Lord being 100% human have gone through this kind of pain in the hand of political and religious elites of that era in obedience to the Father and for the benefit of rebellious humanity?
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord had expectation, he turned away from the pain and shame of His execution to the glory in His resurrection. This is not about Him. It is about us - the number of people who will now be able to share in His glory, seating with Him in the throne of His glory, ruling and reigning with Him. This glory is in His resurrection.

Luke 24:25-26
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Hebrews 2:6-9, 10-12
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

1 Peter 1:10-11
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

God sets His expectation before us. The first humans had the tree of life, the partaking of which will lead them into life eternal. But they missed!

This expectation fell on Jesus to help us attain the high calling of God. God gave Him the mission to help humanity receive eternal life.

John 5:36
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

What is the work of the Father here?
John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Yet, we see the Lord also create an atmosphere of expectation for His followers, "...tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Upon His physical departure, He left instruction, stay in Jerusalem until power comes upon you.

Luke 24:46-49 (see also Acts 1:6-8)
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

What is the need for power? He had told them earlier...
Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

These miracles, signs and wonders will aid their effectiveness in ministry. The Lord created in them expectation for manifestation of power to aid their work. In fact, we immediately see the impact upon being filled with the Holy Ghost. Mark would further testify...

Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Hebrews 2:3-4
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Evidential experience of life in Christ is built firmly on adherents' expectation which is built on assurance we have in Christ. This assurance we have because of His resurrection that communicate victory over sin, death and Satan. Now, He reigns.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

There isn't much God can do for us without expectation.
God's power married with our expectation...