Surprised by God …

Have you ever had someone profoundly surprise you?

Some people love and are thrilled by surprises, other people strongly dislike being surprised.

Today in the Word tells a story about how several people were surprised when a New York City businessman decided to avoid a $20 service charge by replacing a fluorescent light himself. After he had smuggled a new light into his office and put it in place, he decided to get rid of the old tube by throwing it in the trash can near his subway stop. That night he got on the subway holding the seven-foot light vertically, with one end resting on the floor of the car. As the train became more crowded other passengers took hold of the tube, assuming it was a stanchion. By the time the man reached his stop, he simply removed his hand and exited the car, leaving the other passengers gripping the fluorescent tube!

Grabbing hold of one thing, the subway riders were surprised by what they were finally left with!

So were the followers of Jesus three days after His crucifixion.

The man they had followed because they believed He was God’s promised Messiah, had been brutally beaten, then publicly executed. The last they knew of Him, His body was resting lifeless in a cold, dark tomb.

Then Sunday morning arrived, and they were surprised with what they were left with … a risen Savior!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, ultimately resulting in the complete and utter defeat over sin and death, wasn’t planned by God to be a surprise. It was part of His perfect plan for humanity before He ever created the world and all that is in it …

“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time — to show us his grace through Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 1:9.

As amazed as Jesus’ disciples found themselves, there wasn’t any reason why they should have been surprised at all by the events that had taken place the last few days, or even with the incredible revelation that Jesus had risen from the dead. That’s because Jesus had told them clearly about all the things that would happen before they occurred, they simply didn’t pay attention …

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead,” Matthew 16:21.

Yet, when it all happened, the disciples were incredulous, surprised by God.

Do you find it surprising when God does what He has already communicated He will do? What does God, in the Bible, reveal to you He will do in your future? Do you believe He will really do what He has promised to do? Or do you still find yourself surprised by God?

Scotty