Expectation of the Christ, Then and Now

Expectations shape how we understand God’s work — and how easily we may miss it.

In this message, we examine why expectations mattered at the time of Jesus’ first coming, and how they influenced whether He was recognised as the Christ. Although many in first-century Israel were waiting for the Messiah, those who knew the Scriptures best often failed to see what God was doing right in front of them.

The sermon explores where the expectation of the Christ came from, the roles of the three figures spoken of in Scripture — Christ, Elijah, and “that Prophet” — and what the Jews of Jesus’ time were truly expecting. We consider which prophecies Jesus fulfilled at His coming and why so many of those prophecies were misunderstood or overlooked.

Turning to our own time, the message challenges us to reflect on our expectations of Christ’s coming today. It examines key end-time prophecies, including those concerning the regathering of the Israelites, and looks closely at Isaiah 44:5, which describes three distinct groups: Christians, Jews, and Christian Israelites.

This sermon invites thoughtful reflection on how Scripture shapes our expectations, reminding us to watch for Christ’s second coming with understanding and to encourage one another as we wait for its fulfilment.