We had Hoped

Luke 24:21 NIV: “but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel…”

I’m reading a very compelling book right now by N.T. Wright’s called “Surprised by Hope”. As he sets the context for his insights about the resurrection, he reminds us that at no point did the disciples have any understanding or expectation that Jesus would die and rise again soon after his death. On the contrary, the crucifixion was the end of all their hopes.
Whatever their expectations, as far as they were concerned, the game was over, the kingdom hadn’t come, and they were wrong thinking he was the Messiah.

This verse in Luke is from a conversation between friends on the road to Emmaus, which took place days after Jesus’ death. The phrase, “but we had hoped…” contains all of the hurt, confusion, fear, and anger that must have been swirling among the disciples and all who followed him. Everything they had lived for, left home for, and believed in, seemed to be all for nothing.

Can you identify with them? Having had times when the reality of life was not what you expected? When what you had hoped for never happened? When the person you followed turned out to be a sham? When, in fact, what has come to be is so far from the dream of what you thought, that all you can do is weep?

And yet despite what seemed to be the bleakest of reality, hope was not dead. For Christ, though crucified, was indeed resurrected, providing a path for eternal hope.

I try to imagine what it must have been like for Christ’s followers to have sunk into such despair and hopelessness, the lowest of the low, only to be bombarded with surprise, joy, and hope when Christ appeared.

It reminds me that despite what may seem like the darkest of days now, hope still reigns. We never know what news tomorrow will bring.