My Expectation vs God’s expectation
Acts 1:6-8
By Ysrael De la Cruz
We all have them; yes everyone has them. In fact, we get frustrated because of them. I am talking about expectations. Expectation (dictionary) a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. A belief that someone will or should achieve something.
When things do not go as we expect, we get angry, frustrated, or disappointed. We expect our team to win the championship. Our government to do the right thing for the people. We expect this pandemic to end so we can get back to some sort of normality. We expect our internet connection to be fast; we expect people to respond to a call or text or email we send.
We all have expectations of people, but we also have expectations of God. We expect God to answer our prayers many times according to our will. We expect him to act on our behalf. To keep us safe from danger and so forth.

The disciples of Jesus had a messianic expectation of Jesus. They thought Jesus was the messiah and they waited for Jesus to take over Jerusalem any moment in their lifetime. They expected a king like David and Jesus would be this king who would restore the kingdom to Israel (which at this time was under Roman rule).
When Jesus died the disciples thought their dream and hope was lost.
Luke 24:21 We had hope that he was the one to redeem Israel.
After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the disciples thought their hope was alive. Our hope lives, the plan is back in motion. Jesus appeared to his disciples for a period of about 40 days given them proof that he was indeed alive. Acts 1:3
During those days in which Jesus appeared to them, they finally got to ask him the big question. This question lays out for us the expectation they had about Jesus.
Acts 1:6 “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
This was their expectation since they began to follow Jesus, three years earlier.
They wanted to know how soon it will happen since Jesus is back from the dead now. The disciples thought that Jesus saying to them stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise you heard me talk about meant the restoration of the kingdom was near. (v.4-5) “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So it makes sense why they asked Jesus this question; something big was coming according to Jesus. (Stay in the city, the promise is coming, the Holy Spirit will clothe you in a few days).
Imagine the joy in the disciples when they heard Jesus utter those words, in a few days. Lord are you restoring the kingdom when that happens?

Jesus’ answer was not what they expected. They asked Jesus for a time frame, will you do it then? A few day from now?

It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (v.7)
This is not the answer they had hoped for. Jesus just told him that it was not their business to inquire about when the kingdom would be restored or redeemed. That is God’s agenda, not theirs! It should not be ours either.

Jesus did say though that the kingdom will be restored one day, but you and I will not know when. It is not our job to try to find out the date when it will happen; there are people infatuated with the end-times, the seasons, the times. God has fixed the date and the season when everything will come to pass. Only he knows when, it is not our job to know those things. It will happen, but you and I will not know when.
Here is God’s expectation as you wait for the return of Jesus. (v.8) Here God’s expectation as we wait for God’s kingdom to be established.
v.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
This was Jesus’ expectation for his followers. They would be empowered by the Spirit to bear witness of Jesus everywhere. This is what you must do as you wait for God’s kingdom to come. To be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Jesus expects his people to be his witnesses in their town, in their state, in their country and globally, every nation on earth.

You see, regarding of the expectations you and I may have, Jesus laid out his mission for his followers. How are you being a representative of Jesus where you live? Are you being a witness for Jesus? This is what the apostles were called to do, this is what you are I are called to do as we wait for the consummation of his kingdom. Are job is not to try to predict when Jesus is coming or being so concerned with the signs of the time that we lose focus of our true mission.
You and I have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Jesus’ witnesses wherever we go. This is what God expects you to do now.