JOHN 5:15-18 BLIND EXPECTATIONS

15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Without having some expectations we would not be able to function in this world. For one, we depend upon the laws of nature to be in effect at all times, and therefore, do not worry that when we have to jump over our dog that is sleeping in the hall we will not land on the other side. Nor do we need to ask ourselves whether we will burn our hand by grabbing that hot pan off the stove. Throughout the day our minds are free to be creative or serve others because our expectations guide us through the routine activities of human life. In this way, expectations can be seen as humankind’s best friends.

However, there is another and darker side to expectations. As any psychologist or counselor can testify, wrongly held expectations are one of, if not the greatest, causes of broken relationships. Whether it is an office, school, friend, spouse, child or parent relationship, we all have idealized versions of how it should be, and since the other is never ideal, we are always disappointed. Depending on how central our expectations are to whom we are, our response can range from mild disappointment and frustration to open anger and hostility.

Institutionally we codify our corporate expectations as rules, and these rules are often a self-expression of our identity. Therefore, those who do not play by our rules or otherwise fit our expectations we reject. Jesus, by commanding the crippled man to carry his mat on the Sabbath violated one of the cardinal rules that identified the Jews over and against all others. By doing so he self-identified himself as “not one of us,” no matter what else he did (even healing an invalid). To make matters worse, as one who did not abide by the institutional rules he declared that he was not just a member of the organization, but its very creator. This was so far afield of their expectations that in a response that was proportional to their shattered expectations they sought to kill him.

Where in our lives do we hold so firmly to our expectations that we strangle our relationships and opportunities? Have you ever thought to yourself that a certain person could not be a Christian because he…? How often have you thought “My God would not do that”? Be careful to leave the door of your mind open just enough that God can shine in the light of his revelation.