1st century Judaism had an expectation of the coming Christ. 1st century Judaism was really frustrated with the one from Bethlehem who claimed to be the Christ. (Actually, He tried to keep it a secret for a while.) 1st century Judaism rejected Jesus the Christ for many reasons but one major reason was His perceived impotence as a military commander. He wasn’t the military commander they had hoped for. He didn’t obliterate the Romans and set up shop as a bigger version of Rome.
I had an interesting thought today. In the same way that 1st century Judaism was frustrated with Jesus, are we frustrated with him for not dictating our circumstances the way we’d like? He didn’t wipe out the Romans then and he hasn’t obliterated our enemies now. We all have enemies, be it within or without. We have things inside us which wage war against the members of our body and we have people or businesses outside which make our lives difficult. Do you ever find yourself frustrated with the Messiah because He isn’t ruling the way you’d like? He didn’t set up shop the way you thought He would? Sure He has helped in some battles here and there and a lot of the major ones but there are still those enemies that get us and He hasn’t stepped in? There is still a lot of distortion which needs to be tuned.
I must admit that this is a constant battle for me. Sometimes I want a Savior who does what I want and sees things the way I do but forever and ever He doesn’t. He sees things the way that He does. In His most beautiful and loving ways. In ways that no one could fathom. It is hard for me to surrender to His love and His good will. I am still a little blood thirsty myself. I am torn between the good He has and temptations to settle. Lately He has been teaching me that His ultimate plan for me is to know His love and to surrender to that love. My desired circumstances don’t seem to sway His will and this bugs me. Surely He would do what I desire. Surely He would see how much I want the things that I want and give them to me? Surely He would be the Savior who saves me by giving me what I want!!! NOPE. He knows what I want and He knows what is good for me. Praise be to Jesus who doesn’t give me what I want but gives me what I need. Although it is incredibly frustrating I must admit. 
He is beautiful and He can woo us but we gotta let him take us out. We got to check Him out from afar and then check him out when He is near. Easy does it.
Talk to the Military Commander and ask Him how the war is going. Perhaps you can ask Him if you’re fighting the right war. Perhaps he’s interested in something MORE. Perhaps your interests are too small? I once accomplished what God wanted me to accomplish only to find out that I was the one who wanted to accomplish it. But He still worked with my accomplishments.
Some people will have a tough time with this post because they will appeal toward the texts in the Bible where Jesus is portrayed as a commander who will come back one day and stomp all His enemies. I think He will come back, He will set up shop, but I think even then it won’t look like what we expected. The book of Revelation has the most vivid images of COMEBACK but even they are depicting the cosmic battle of good and evil and not necessarily a blood thirsty general. But again each passage must be looked at in its own context.
Comments, anyone comments?
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I think you’re exactly right Steve. Our American version of the 1st century Jewish Messianic expectation is that Jesus redeems by giving us the house/job/family we’ve always wanted. I think it is sometimes hard for us to imagine that He still cares when life is spinning out of control around us. Lately, God has been teaching me that “abundant life” doesn’t necessarily include the things I want it to include . . . things that I even demand it include.