The Unlikeliest Hero

He Didn’t Look Like a Champion… But He Won the Greatest Fight in History.

The world expected a warrior, a king with power and might. Instead, Jesus came as a servant, stepping into the greatest battle of all time—against sin, death, and the forces of darkness. He fought not with fists, but with sacrifice. The enemy thought he had won. But then… Sunday came.

Day 3: The Misunderstood Messiah

Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Devotional Thought:

The people shouted, “Hosanna!”—but they had no idea what kind of Savior they were actually cheering for.

They expected a political hero. Someone to ride in, overthrow the Roman government, restore national power, and make everything comfortable again. But Jesus rode in on a donkey, not a warhorse. He wept over the city. He cleansed the temple. And by the end of the week, the same crowd that praised Him would demand His crucifixion.

Why?
Because He didn’t meet their expectations.

It’s easy to look back and shake our heads, but we do the same thing. We expect Jesus to fix our plans, solve our problems the way we want, and lead us in the direction we’ve already chosen. When He doesn’t, we feel disappointed, confused, or even frustrated with God.

But the truth is, our expectations often need to be crucified before God’s purpose can be revealed. Jesus didn’t come to be who they wanted. He came to be who we truly needed.

Isaiah reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. That means we may not always understand what He’s doing in the moment—but we can trust His heart, even when we don’t fully see His hand.

Reflection Questions:

  • Where in your life are you hoping for God to meet your expectations—rather than seeking His will?

  • What would it look like to surrender those expectations and trust that His plan is better?

  • How might God be working behind the scenes in ways that challenge your assumptions?

Challenge for Today:

Identify one area of your life where you’re holding tight to a specific outcome—whether it’s about your major, your relationships, your career path, or your comfort.
Ask God to help you release control and show you His will over your want.

Pray this simple prayer today:
“God, not my expectations, but Your purpose be done in me.”