This sermon explores the concept of the 'kingdom of expectations', emphasizing how our preconceived notions can prevent us from recognizing and accepting Jesus as our savior.
Welcome back church! I’m excited you’re here as we continue on in our 2-part series, King of all kingdoms. Last week we looked at John 18:28-39 and the collision that the Kingdom of God had with the kingdom of culture. This week we’ll be focusing way in on one verse from that longer passage that highlights another kingdom at play. As you may have already guessed, it’s the Kingdom of Expectations… and it’s a doozy.
But before we get too far along, have you ever read any Russian literature? You know those long, boring-looking books that take up the space of 3 or 4 novels on the book shelf?
A friend recently finished a book called The Brothers Karamazov. He’d heard great things and expected the behemoth novel to deliver. He was looking forward to the epic family drama, the depth of character development, and the timeless insight into life. But…
The book was slow, the characters were confusing and the Russian names kept changing. He struggled to stay interested and began nodding off as he read.
But, as the book neared page 150, he noticed that he was more invested. His interest sparked. There was a hint of promise, but he remained skeptical. Then all of a sudden, the book took a dramatic turn and all of the characters seemed to have an incredible depth and the story an irresistible pull.
His disappointment quickly melted away. At the end of the book, he was filled with joy and a sense of wonder that he hadn't felt in a long time. As readers have said for generations, The Brothers Karamazov is an amazing story and well worth your time.
Like many of us, his high expectations initially fell flat. But, in the end, the payoff far exceeded those expectations and changed his mind completely.
His story is similar to how people felt about Jesus when he first came on the scene 2000 years ago. Here’s what was going on…
His story is similar to how people felt about Jesus when he first came on the scene 2000 years ago.
When the Israelites were exiled in Babylon, and when their homeland was occupied by a foreign power, they leaned on their faith for hope and comfort. They held onto the idea of a Messiah, one who would come and restore their kingdom and bring peace and justice into their world.
But who was this Messiah, and what did the Israelites expect from such a figure? When would he arrive and how large would his army have to be to overthrow Rome?
Let’s take a look at the words of three prophets in the Old Testament—Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea—to explore this question and to see what the ancient Israelites believed about the coming of the Messiah. This will help us understand why the expectations were so great and ultimately, why so many Jews failed to recognize Jesus for who He was.
A Kingdom of Peace, Prosperity, and Revival
Isaiah 11:11-12 says, “In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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