“Unexpected Surprises”

You had them before, you know, those unexpected surprises.  Someone does something for you out of the blue and you’re like, “WOW!  Didn’t expect that!”  You open a letter and it is from someone you haven’t talked to in years.  We all have had those unexpected moments. 

Some friends of ours gave us a gift certificate for “Dinner for Two” to a very nice local restaurant in Raleigh a few months ago.  I decided to wait and use it for Terry’s birthday.  Yes, I’m cheap!!!  But, think about it, it was my only way of taking her to a really nice restaurant so that has to count for something.  Anyway, I decided to take Emma with us and the three of us went this past Saturday night on Terry’s birthday.

I was very impressed with this restaurant.  Very classy, sheik, and a great atmosphere.  We had made reservations and were immediately seated upon arrival.  Si was our waiter and so I gave him the gift certificate upfront because I wanted him to know we had it, you know, NO surprises.  He put it in a black folder in his waist band and we began our experience.

I’ll have to say the food was great and service was fantastic.  I don’t think I could have asked any better.  For her birthday celebration, Terry and I ordered a couple of drinks and Emma Grace had a Shirley Temple (one of her favorites).  After the meal was over we decided to order coffee and dessert and I’ll just have to say, if you go to this place to eat, order the chocolate over chocolate cake with ice cream.  You will not be sorry.  Maybe a few pounds heavier, but not sorry!

We were ready to get our check, pay, and head home.  I knew what the two lowest priced entrees cost, so I knew about $50 would be taken off our bill and I would owe the rest.  Si brought the bill and I looked at it and said, “Si, wait a minute.  What about our gift certificate?”  “Oh,” he said, and picked back up the bill and walked away.  The bill he laid down was somewhat north of three digits.  I guess I didn’t realize French Press Coffee and dessert would have been quite that much, nor that a glass of wine would be $15.  But, hey, it’s my wife’s birthday.  Si, came back in just a couple of minutes with the new bill and said, “All, we are charging you for are the two drinks you and your wife had” and he walked away.  What?  Wait!  The certificate was only for two, 2 entrees, nothing else.  Man, what an unexpected surprise.  The bill had gone from north of $$$ to $20.  What a blessing!!!

As we walked to my truck Terry and I both said, “Well, that was unexpected.”  The word got stuck in my mind driving home and I began to think about the unexpected surprises during the last week of Jesus life.

We are in the Lenten season and are now close to Holy Week.  Think about it from His disciples perspective.  He just asked for a donkey colt to ride into Jerusalem.  Surprise, the prophecy on display.  Jesus clears out everyone in the temple.  Surprise, there is such a thing as righteous anger.  He tells them that one of them, one of the twelve, will betray Him and he tells them this at the Passover Meal.  Surprise!!!  “What?” ”Surely not I,” was their response.  They are even surprised when walking to the garden that night to hear, “All of you will flee from me.”  They were surprised He was arrested.  I think they were surprised He allowed them to arrest Him.  Every time before He slipped away untouched.  They were surprised that on Calvary’s Hill, their Lord would be crucified, but He was!

But folks, their biggest, grandest, most beautiful surprise came when the women came to the tomb and heard, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said…”  “Go and tell His disciples…” Matthew 28:5-7  Though they had been told, they did not expect that one.  “He Has Risen.”  The greatest “Unexpected Surprise.”

This Easter, what if you allowed yourself to experience the Resurrection of your Lord anew?  What if your experience on Easter morning was, “OH LORD!!! Thank you for the empty tomb!”  The unexpected surprise for me is that the resurrected Jesus has called me to be His, one of His chosen.   He took on my sin so I wouldn’t have to.  He conquered death so I could!  Greatest gift, greatest surprise ever!!!

Have you experienced the unexpected surprise of the resurrected Lord in your life?  If not, please do, for it will be the greatest surprise, the greatest gift you have ever received.  There is no doubt about it.  And if so, celebrate anew this Easter the resurrected Savior, your Lord, and give thanks!  

Let us come and Worship the LORD!!!

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty                   

Worship, Grow & Serve