The Unexpected Jesus (Sermon 2) Defying Expectations
Introduction
Today, I want to take you on a journey to explore a profound and often surprising aspect of our Saviour—what I like to call "The Unexpected Jesus." Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently defied expectations. Whether it was the religious leaders of the day, the multitudes, or even His own disciples, Jesus was always more than people anticipated. His actions, words, and choices frequently left those around Him astounded and sometimes even confused. But in these unexpected moments, Jesus reveals deep truths about God’s character, His kingdom, and His purposes for our lives.
Our focus today will be on how Jesus challenges our preconceived notions and invites us to encounter Him in ways we might not expect. We will explore three key points:
The Unexpected Authority of Jesus
The Unexpected Compassion of Jesus
The Unexpected Sacrifice of Jesus
We will draw on various passages of Scripture to see how Jesus reveals Himself in unexpected ways and how those revelations challenge and transform us.
I. The Unexpected Authority of Jesus
Let’s begin by examining the unexpected authority of Jesus. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus exercising authority in ways that left people amazed and sometimes even outraged. One of the most striking examples of this is found in Mark 1:21-22 (NLT):
"Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law."
In this passage, we see that the people were astonished by the authority with which Jesus taught. The Greek word used here for "authority" is exousia, which implies not just power, but rightful power—legitimate authority. Unlike the scribes who derived their authority from the interpretation of the Law, Jesus spoke as one who had intrinsic authority.
The unexpectedness of Jesus' authority lies in the fact that He didn’t conform to the established religious norms. He didn’t quote other rabbis or rely on human tradition; He spoke directly from the heart of God. This was shocking to those who heard Him because they were used to teachings that were steeped in tradition and human interpretation.
When we reflect on this, it challenges us to consider how we respond to Jesus' authority in our own lives. Are we willing to submit to His word, even when it challenges our traditions, our understanding, or our comfort?
Supporting Scripture:
Matthew 28:18 (NLT): "Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.'"
Here, Jesus declares His universal authority, affirming that His power is not just over religious matters but over all of creation. The word exousia is used again, underscoring that His authority is absolute and all-encompassing.
As A.W. Tozer once said, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” When we confine Jesus to our expectations, we limit His authority in our lives. But when we recognize His true authority, we are set free to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
II. The Unexpected Compassion of Jesus
The second unexpected aspect of Jesus we’ll explore is His compassion. Jesus often reached out to those whom society had rejected or overlooked. This was surprising to many who expected the Messiah to associate with the powerful and the influential. One of the most powerful examples of this is found in Mark 1:40-42 (NLT):
"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. 'If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,' he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed."
In this passage, Jesus does something completely unexpected—He touches a leper. According to Jewish law, touching a leper would make a person ceremonially unclean. Yet, Jesus, moved with compassion, chooses to touch the man and heal him.
The Greek word for compassion here is splagchnizomai, which literally means to be moved in one's inner being, or to be deeply moved. Jesus wasn’t just intellectually aware of the man's suffering; He felt it deeply and responded with action.
This challenges us to consider how we respond to those in need. Are we willing to be moved with compassion, even when it’s inconvenient or when it challenges societal norms?
Luke 7:13 (NLT): "When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. 'Don’t cry!' he said."
Here, we see Jesus moved with compassion for a widow who had lost her only son. This compassion led Him to raise the son from the dead. The word compassion here again points to a deep, gut-level empathy that moves Jesus to action.
Max Lucado writes, “Compassion is the force that drives Jesus to perform miracles. When you read the Gospels, you cannot miss it—Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s compassion.” Jesus’ compassion was unexpected because it wasn’t limited by societal boundaries or religious rules. It flowed freely to all who were in need.
III. The Unexpected Sacrifice of Jesus
Finally, let’s consider the unexpected sacrifice of Jesus. The Jewish people of Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to be a conquering king who would liberate them from Roman rule. However, Jesus defied these expectations by laying down His life on the cross. The most profound expression of this is found in Isaiah 53:3-5 (NLT), a prophecy fulfilled in Christ:
"He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed."
This prophecy speaks of a suffering Messiah—one who would bear the sins of the world. This was not the kind of Messiah the people were expecting, but it was the Saviour they desperately needed.
The Hebrew word for "pierced" is chalal, which means to bore through, to wound fatally. This was a prophecy of the crucifixion, centuries before the Romans invented it as a method of execution.
Jesus’ sacrifice was unexpected because it turned worldly expectations upside down. Instead of conquering by force, He conquered by love and sacrifice. This challenges us to consider how we view power and success in our own lives. Are we willing to embrace the way of the cross, even when it means sacrifice and suffering?
Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT): "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross."
Paul describes the humility and obedience of Jesus, who chose the path of sacrifice over the privileges of divinity. This was the ultimate unexpected act—God Himself dying for the sins of humanity.
As Timothy Keller writes, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” Jesus’ sacrifice was unexpected because it revealed a depth of love that surpasses human understanding.
Conclusion:
As we reflect on the unexpected aspects of Jesus—His authority, His compassion, and His sacrifice—we are called to respond. Jesus invites us to follow Him, not as we expect Him to be, but as He truly is. This requires us to surrender our preconceived notions and to be open to encountering Him in new and transformative ways.
Call to Action:
This week, I challenge you to spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal any areas where you may be limiting Jesus to your expectations. Ask Him to surprise you with His authority, compassion, and love in ways you’ve never experienced before. Let’s commit to following the unexpected Jesus, trusting that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Amen.
