The Unexpected Jesus (Sermon 3) Discovering God In Surprising Ways Series

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.