The Unexpected Jesus: Discovering God in Surprising Ways
Introduction
Today, I want to explore a theme that could radically transform your relationship with God: the idea that Jesus often shows up in ways we least expect. Many of us have had moments when we expected God to act a certain way, only to be surprised by how He actually revealed Himself. Perhaps you were praying for a breakthrough, but God brought transformation in a different form. These surprises teach us that Jesus is not confined to our expectations. He often shows up where and how we least expect Him.
This message is titled “The Unexpected Jesus: Discovering God in Surprising Ways.”
We’ll explore three key points:
Jesus Shows Up in Unexpected Places
Jesus Reveals His Power in Unexpected Ways
Jesus Calls Us to Unexpected Missions
As Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) reminds us: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Let’s journey together through Scripture to discover how Jesus reveals Himself in surprising ways.
I. Jesus Shows Up in Unexpected Places
The first point is that Jesus often meets us where we least expect Him. One of the clearest examples of this is found in John 4, where Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well.
John 4:4-7 (NLT): “He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’”
In this passage, Jesus is traveling through Samaria—a region most Jews avoided because of the deep-seated prejudice between Jews and Samaritans. Not only does Jesus go where others would not, but He also engages in a conversation with a woman, a Samaritan no less, who was considered an outcast. The fact that this woman came to the well at noon, the hottest part of the day, indicates that she was avoiding others due to her shame. Yet Jesus meets her right where she is, in an unexpected place, and offers her living water (John 4:10).
The phrase "He had to go through Samaria" (Greek: edei) implies a divine necessity. This wasn’t just a geographical decision; it was part of God’s sovereign plan. The Greek word edei emphasizes that Jesus’ journey through Samaria was not accidental—it was essential.
How often do we expect Jesus to show up only in church services, Bible studies, or during times of worship? But the truth is, Jesus can meet us in the everyday moments of life—at work, in our homes, in our struggles, or in our moments of loneliness. The Samaritan woman found Jesus in a place she never expected. Are we looking for Him in our unexpected places?
Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT): "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there."
The psalmist David reminds us that there is no place we can go where God is not present. Whether we are in a place of joy or a place of despair, God is there, and He can meet us even in the most unexpected places.
Max Lucado once said, “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” This quote reminds us that God doesn’t just wait for us at the destination; He walks with us through every step of our journey, even in the unexpected places.
II. Jesus Reveals His Power in Unexpected Ways
The second point is that Jesus often reveals His power in ways that we do not anticipate. We might expect God’s power to be displayed in dramatic, earth-shaking events, but Jesus often demonstrates His power in quiet, subtle ways.
Mark 5:25-34 (NLT): “A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding... She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.”
This woman had suffered for twelve years with a condition that made her ceremonially unclean and an outcast in society. Despite her suffering, she believed that just touching the hem of Jesus' garment would heal her. When she does, Jesus feels power go out from Him and confirms her healing. This is not a public display of power, but a quiet, personal miracle. Jesus didn’t need to perform a grand spectacle—His power was revealed through a simple touch of faith.
The Greek word for “power” in this passage is dynamis, meaning miraculous power. The power of Jesus wasn’t limited to public displays; it could be experienced in a quiet, personal encounter. This woman experienced a private, yet powerful, miracle through a simple act of faith.
Sometimes we expect God’s power to be revealed in grand ways—through miraculous healings, dramatic signs, or visible wonders. But often, God’s greatest miracles are quiet and personal. Maybe you’ve been praying for a breakthrough, and you haven’t seen a dramatic answer yet. Be encouraged—God’s power is at work in the quiet moments, even when it’s not immediately visible.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT): "Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
Explanation: Paul teaches us that God’s power is perfected in our weakness. It’s not always about grand displays of strength, but about God’s power working in the hidden and quiet places of our lives.
Craig Groeschel once said, “God often does His greatest work in the midst of our deepest weakness.” This reminds us that Jesus’ power doesn’t always come in the form we expect, but it is always sufficient for our needs.
III. Jesus Calls Us to Unexpected Missions
The final point is that Jesus often calls us to unexpected missions. We may have plans for our lives, but Jesus frequently interrupts those plans and calls us to something greater.
Luke 5:4-11 (NLT): “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! … Jesus replied to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!’”
Simon Peter, a professional fisherman, had just finished a night of fruitless fishing when Jesus asked him to let down his nets again. From a human perspective, this didn’t make sense. But when Peter obeyed, he experienced a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus then calls him to an even greater mission: to be a fisher of men.
The word for “deeper” in verse 4 is bathos, which refers to the depth of the sea. Jesus was calling Peter to go beyond the shallow waters of his understanding and trust Him in the deeper, unknown territory. This wasn’t just a call to fish; it was a call to deeper faith and to a mission that would change the world.
Jesus often calls us to missions that we never expected. Like Peter, we may feel inadequate or uncertain, but Jesus knows our potential. When we step out in faith, we discover that God’s plans for us are greater than anything we could have imagined. Are you willing to follow Him, even when the mission is unexpected?
Isaiah 6:8 (NLT): "Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’"
Isaiah’s call came unexpectedly, but his willingness to say “yes” led him to a powerful mission. Like Isaiah, we are called to respond to God’s unexpected invitations with obedience.
Oswald Chambers once said, “When it is a question of God’s almighty Spirit, never say, ‘I can’t.’” Jesus’ unexpected missions often come with the promise of His strength and provision.
Conclusion and Call to Action
As we reflect on these stories, we see that Jesus shows up in unexpected places, reveals His power in unexpected ways, and calls us to unexpected missions. The Unexpected Jesus is always at work, often surprising us with His plans and purposes.
Call to Action:
This reflects Jesus' ability to surprise us and move in ways we don't expect, but they are always for our good. As you go through this week, I encourage you to remain open to the Unexpected Jesus. Look for Him in the quiet, unexpected places in your life. Be aware of His power at work, even when it doesn’t come with fanfare. And be ready to answer His call to unexpected missions that may stretch your faith but will also bring incredible purpose to your life.
Remember, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He may surprise us, but His love, power, and mission for us remain constant.
Let’s close in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help us remain open to the ways Jesus may show up unexpectedly in our lives, revealing His power and calling us to new and exciting missions for His glory. Amen.
