And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them… (Matthew 4:25–5:2).
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible contains promises not as random predictions, but interconnected prophecies that reveal God’s plan to bless all the nations. But understanding prophecies and promises is like trying to solve a puzzle without looking at the picture on the front of the box. We have the benefit of knowing Israel’s history because it’s recorded in scripture, but they are living it. Many of their prophecies have a short-term fulfillment, as well as an ultimate fulfillment found in the promised Messiah.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:7).
Israel recognizes David as a great and mighty king, but King David is a temporary fulfillment of this promise; Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment and will reign over an eternal kingdom.
By the time Jesus begins his public ministry, the Jewish people have let their expectations cloud their vision and have developed their own ideas of who the Messiah will be. The crowds are attracted to the signs and wonders of Jesus, but his message doesn’t align with their understanding of what an ideal earthly ruler will look like. As a result, they don’t recognize Jesus as the one they’ve been waiting for.
There’s a danger in letting our imaginations run wild in how we think God should fulfill his promises. Scripture and the Holy Spirit must dictate our expectations.
All-knowing God, help us to trust that you know best! Grant us wisdom and discernment to recognize when our expectations aren’t grounded in scripture.
