These followers of Christ had put their hope in the Lord, but that hope was based on their own way of thinking. No doubt they were looking for an immediate deliverance from the Roman tyranny. It is important for us to remember that God’s ways and thoughts are far beyond ours. Isaiah reminds us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways … For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8–9).

But it is good to put our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1). And we are looking for the blessed hope of His return (1 Th. 4:13–18; Tit. 2:11–14). This hope ought to have an impact on our daily lives as we wait: “We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2–4).

The words of the disciples on the road, “we were hoping,” indicated a hopelessness. They thought their hope was gone; they had lost sight of the promises the Lord had made to them. Thankfully that did not remain the case (Lk. 24:28–32)! It is easy for us to do the same when our attention is on what we think or feel and not upon the solid foundation of the Word of the Lord! The psalmist reminds us to hope in God (Ps. 42:5); Paul says our God is “the God of hope” (Rom. 15:13). We have a hope—steadfast and sure!