Liturgy: “Why am I not surprised?”

What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.

This Week’s Lectionary Readings

Acts 3:12-19
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
Psalm 4

This week’s liturgy is contributed by Katelyn Tamm​, associate director of admissions:

What if the disciples were not at all surprised that Jesus rose from the dead like He said he ​would? I imagine that the two accounts we read in today’s passages might look a little different (a little artistic license used here for emphasis):

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the food they had prepared for Jesus because they knew he would probably be hungry after three days in the grave. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, and when they went in they did not find Him. Two angels stood by them in dazzling apparel. And everyone greeted each other with joy because the words of the prophets had been fulfilled. And no one was surprised because they had believed what Jesus had told them and were really excited to see Him. But of course, they still marveled at what had happened because the Resurrection was an incredible miracle and death had been defeated, just like God said it would be.

Or maybe:

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” And they jumped a little bit and turned around because they were expecting him any minute. “And also with you!” they replied, “Jesus, you’re here! Praise be to God for His steadfast love and faithfulness.” And there was joy and marveling. He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate before them.

Of course, that’s not how the events took place, and you can read the actual accounts in Luke 24. Right away I notice more joy, celebration, hope, and a stark lack of fear. And it makes me wonder, of all people, why are Jesus’ followers and closest friends so astonished and surprised that He did the exact thing He told them He would do?

In the three instances in chapter 24, the angels and Jesus need to remind the disciples of the scriptural prophecies, all the way back to Moses. In verse 44 they need to be reminded of the things that Jesus Himself had explicitly told them: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” This isn’t to judge the disciples, because I’m not sure that I would have been able to hold onto what seemed an impossible hope while watching my Savior and friend die on the Cross. But it does lead me to ask: “where are we not actually believing the truths that God has revealed about Himself and Christ in the Bible, and therefore are surprised when they happen?”

Now we did not see first-hand the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the same way that they did at this time. However, we have the complete God-breathed Scripture–with all of it’s “Easter eggs” and spoilers about His redemptive plan for His creation. The Bible also repeatedly reveals clear attributes of God’s character. We learn that God is love, and He is good, holy, kind, faithful, steadfast, and creative, to name a few. And yet even as Christians, we are still so surprised when God does something that is completely in His character and that He tells us He is going to do.

We’re also witnesses to the ways God has provided for us personally and collectively, and yet we have short-term memory loss with His provision and answers. When the next new challenge comes up we doubt that He will help again. The Israelites had this same problem. After seeing all of the wonders God performed in Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea, as soon as they were in a new challenge they completely forgot and were back to doubting, complaining, and saying things like “Thanks a lot Moses, why am I not surprised? Take me back to Egypt.”

Why am I surprised when these things happen that God tells me will happen so clearly in His Word? If I’m honest with myself it’s during times where I’m not reading it. I’m not meditating on what He’s done for me personally and for others. I’m not being still with Him and letting the truths soak in. But we can remind each other of those truths through scripture, song, and testimony so that we’re expectant of and noticing God’s work around us.

We shouldn’t be surprised that God listens and answers prayer–He says He will. Psalm 4 shows us a beautiful example of the way we can pray expectant that God will hear us and answer us.

We shouldn’t be surprised that evil happens in the world or that we still struggle with sin even after we’re saved. We shouldn’t be surprised that when we rest we feel refreshed, or when we say something harsh we stir up anger in someone else, or that remembering the joy of our salvation is transformative to our overall physical and spiritual health. We shouldn’t be surprised that for everything there is a season.

And then when Christ returns I hope somewhere some Christian is saying with a big smile “Why am I not surprised?”