“When they had come together, they asked him saying, ‘Anointed One, is this the moment when you will restore the Kingdom of Israel” (Acts 1.6)?
The Resurrection is, as we’ve been seeing, full of surprises. The disciples have been left bewildered by Jesus at every turn: from being alive, to making breakfast, to suddenly standing right in the middle of them. And, so, they’re beginning to get it. They’re starting to anticipate what surprise is next. To say, in a way, ah, now I know how this story is going to go.
There have been several series in the past decade or so whose endings have left audiences…underwhelmed. Be it Lost or the Sopranos or Game of Thrones, the narrative arc that captivated viewers for episode after episode seems to end up in a place that is unsatisfying. It’s not just that the show-runners didn’t give everyone what they expected, but their ending seemed out of step with everything that had gone before.
As we approach the final episodes of the story of the Easter season, it’s conclusion isn’t going as expected. It’s certainly not what it’s audience—the disciples—were anticipating. And like fans on social media, they’re asking when is what we expect to happen going to occur.
But in this case, they’re out of step with what has happened so far. They’re expecting conquering and power and a righting of wrongs. None of which has happened in the three years they’ve been on this road.
What will happen next will surprise them even more. But for the moment, we are left with them and their assumptions, frustrated that the ending isn’t like they expected.
Because, maybe, the story they’re part of is different than they imagined.
Jesus, may I never think I’ve got it all figured out when it comes to what you will do to reconcile all things to you.