The disciples struggled with this as well. Aside from their joy at seeing the risen Jesus, every conversation with him was tinged with disappointment.
Jesus’ response to their disappointment shows that their hopes and dreams were short-sighted, shallow, and self-centered.
The resurrection changes everything when our life focus or mindset is eternal, transformational, and missional.
ETERNAL
Jesus taught us that this life is a dot on an infinite line. The infinite line matters more than the dot. The dot still matters, but what’s most in the dot is what lasts beyond the dot.
TRANSFORMATIONAL
Hopes and dreams are shallow when we believe and live as if life is short. We place too much emphasis on short-term wins and losses.
But Jesus goes deeper because life is eternal, and because it’s eternal, our life now is, in part, preparation for the infinite.
So God is concerned with our growth and transformation here and now. God wants to transform our hearts, our relationships, our desires, and our loves because this is not all there is—God is with us and eternity awaits us.
MISSIONAL
The disciples were disappointed with the results of the resurrection because their hopes and dreams were only for their own people, Israel. They fixated on overthrowing the Romans so that they could experience political and religious freedom.
We’ll ultimately miss the purpose of our lives and our calling from God if we make life and faith only about our own families or even our fellow believers.
The redemption Jesus brought is broader. His calling on our lives is bigger.
The resurrection will not disappoint us and we’ll live a more joyful, meaningful, and peaceful life when we begin to live life on mission for God.
When the disciples eventually understood and embraced the resurrection, they discovered that the Romans were not an enemy to be defeated but a people to loved and to be won over for Christ, even if it cost them their own lives.
Jesus calls us to live as missionaries in our work places and neighborhoods. We’re ambassadors of his kingdom, and we bear the message of his grace. We are called to a life of compassion and witness.
We are disappointed with the results of the resurrection and with God because we’re prone to twist our faith into something that is short-sighted, shallow, and self-centered. And then we can’t understand why God doesn’t meet our expectations.
But we experience deep joy and purpose when we value and prioritize what’s eternal, when we seek to grow by letting Jesus go deeper into our souls, and when we join him in his mission.
