WEEKLY WORD: The Unexpected
The past several days have been beautiful but, the weathermen are predicting a drop in temperature by about 30 to 40 degrees. They are predicting rain with the chance of snow. Many people are not looking forward to it. Even if you are someone, like myself, who is from Iowa and used to the randomness of Iowa weather, it is still unexpected.
This is not what we were preparing for and certainly not what we were hoping for. On top of all that, we really don’t know what to expect. The next days’ weather is completely up in the air.
Thinking about how unexpected this upcoming weather is, I cannot help but think back to the most unexpected thing to happen in history. The unexpected event that I am referring to is recorded in John chapter one.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:1-18)
John tells us that God did something very unexpected — he came to us and for us. He says that God took on flesh. Think about what that means for a moment. The God who created the universe, the God who was before time, the God who breathed life into existence, came to earth to live a life just like us.
That means he felt what we feel and was tempted as we are tempted.
The writer of Hebrews says it this way, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
God did not have to do that. That was not typical. No other so-called “god” would subject themselves to that. Yet, the God of the Bible did the unexpected and came to experience life as we experienced.
This was to accomplish the other very unexpected piece — to show us grace and truth. John tells us that Jesus brought grace and truth. It is through this unexpected Jesus that we can see the truth that “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Not one person is good enough. Not one person can do enough to gain God. Jesus points this truth out to us.
But this unexpected Jesus also shows us the grace that “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
Even though we could not do it on our own, God did the unexpected and took care of the issue. He did the unexpected and came to us, offering himself on our behalf. All we must do, is believe in Jesus and confess that He is Lord.
The most unexpected thing in history, was that God came to Earth in the form of Jesus to offer us grace and truth.
Many will never accept this grace and truth. Many will keep on going until the end without calling on the name of the Lord. Will you do the unexpected and receive the unexpected Jesus?
Prayer
Heavenly Father. I am struck by your willingness to do the unexpected. You did not have to come to Earth. You did not have to live through what I live through. You did not have to die on a cross. But you chose to.
Thank you for being willing to do the unexpected for me. Thank you for giving yourself in my place. Today, I receive the unexpected by doing the unexpected and giving my life to you. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
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