The Disciples' Misplaced Expectations of Christ

I believe we shouldn't be critical of the way Christ's disciples behaved while he was still with them.  We tend to misplace our expectations too, especially when it comes to electing politicians or trusting friends.

In the first century, Rome ruled over Israel with rigger. Israelites felt especially affronted by these pagans bringing in their images and their false religions. They took seriously what God commanded in exodus 20:4 and 5 (BBE). "You are not to make an image or picture of anything in heaven or on the earth or in the waters under the earth: You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;"

People at that time expected the arrival of Messiah. Consequently, we read of Peter's excitement in John 1:41 (BBE) when, "Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, 'We have made discovery! It is the Messiah!' (which is to say, the Christ)."

The Jews of that time remembered Daniel 9:25 and 26 (BBE) which prophecied, "Have then the certain knowledge that from the going out of the word for the building again of Jerusalem till the coming of a prince, on whom the holy oil has been put, will be seven weeks: in sixty-two weeks its building will be complete, with square and earthwork."

But they didn't understand Daniel 9:26 (BBE) which said, "And at the end of the times, even after the sixty-two weeks, one on whom the holy oil has been put will be cut off and have no ...; and the town and the holy place will be made waste together with a prince; and the end will come with an overflowing of waters, and even to the end there will be war; the making waste which has been fixed."

The crucifixion of Christ was such a shock to them, even though he said plainly he would die and be lifted up again. That's why Acts 1:6 (BBE) says, "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?"

They didn't understand that Christ spoke of a spiritual kingdom which they were a part of.

On Thursday, unless Christ returns, I hope to post about my youthful materialism and how I've changed since the seventies.