“…but we had hoped…”

““What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”

Luke 24: 19-21

 

Two disciples were walking with the resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus.

They had no idea it was Jesus they were speaking with.

As they walked and talked together their words revealed their heart.

They said: “…but we had hoped…”

It was a statement of disappointment.

Jesus had not done what they had hoped He would do.

I suspect it is safe to say that we have all had those moments in life.

We were convinced we knew what Jesus would do about something in our life.

Yet hindsight reveals how wrong our assumptions were.

Rather than admit the wisdom and understanding that God possesses we lament how He could have missed the perfect opportunity to do what we just knew was the right course.

Very often our interests are ones of ego preservation, short-term reward or pleasure.

God’s interest is to see the image of His Son formed in us.

His purposes for us are always good but not always palatable to our flesh.

Jesus had done exactly what the Father wanted.

In their ignorance, the two disciples ‘hopes’ were in conflict with the Father’s will.

Let God transform your hopes that they might align with His will.

He can ‘refocus’ your hopes for your life; your hopes for your family, your church and your nation just as He did with the two disciples.

Lord, transform our hope so that it is in you and in seeing your will done!