What do you expect?

"A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick" (John 6:2).

When a woman is pregnant, we often say she is "expecting." That term is properly used, for truly she and the father are expecting that in nine months she will give birth to a baby. And not just any baby, but their baby. They expects that life will forever change. Their expectation includes the emotion of joy and happiness of being parents. In reality, it is all about expectation.

John writes that a large crowd followed Jesus with great expectation. Though they did not accept Him for who He truly is as God's Son, they recognized something supernatural about Him. They followed Him expecting to see miracles. Their expectation was high though their understanding was low.

The irony of this passage in John chapter six is great, as well as convicting. In large part, the unbelieving crowd that Jesus, hoping to see His miraculous work, had greater faith and expectation than Jesus' own followers. They came expecting Jesus to perform miraculous deeds, yet, when Jesus tested His own disciples in regard to feeding the multitude, none of the Twelve responded with expectation that Jesus could and would do great things. John MacArthur sadly notes, "No one responded by affirming the power of Jesus to provide."

What are we expecting? Do we expect anything at all? Jesus' half-brother warned about asking Jesus of anything without faith. James said that the one who asks in doubt (without expectation) should expect to receive nothing from the Lord, being a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways.

William Carey, who founded the modern mission movement, was moved with compassion for unbelievers around the globe. A shoemaker by trade, Carey began to pursue the passion in his heart to see those without Jesus Christ come to know the redeeming love of Jesus. In 1792 at an association meeting in Nottingham, England, Carey preached a stirring message on missions in which Carey challenged Christians to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.

We will never attempt great things from God if we do not expect God to do great things. If our God cannot do great things, we have the wrong God. Jesus has the power to work in ways that exceed our need, our asking or our imagination.

What do you expect God to do? What do you expect God to do in your life? What do you expect God to do in your church? What do you expect God to do in your community and your world?

Expect great things from God!