“Behold, I send my messenger & he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple…” Mal 3:1
Will we recognize Jesus when He comes suddenly?
Can we recognize Him on others no matter how different or familiar they are to us?
Can we recognize when God comes suddenly & does something we have never heard of, we have never seen nor our hearts imagined? (1 Cor 2:9)
When Jesus came, creation itself took action & stars aliened. (Matt 2:2)
Jesus came a baby housed in a stable, simple & humble, a place full of stench & manure, yet the birth place for the Son of God & His presence.
Jesus came as one of a crowd to the river Jordan to be baptized by a radical called John who’s very life was to prepare the way for this Jesus, & yet in the moment that his whole existence was for, did not recognize Him. (John 1:31, 33)
Jesus came riding a young donkey, not a grand white stallion into the nation’s capital, Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40). He came a spiritual savior, not the expected political Messiah.
Jesus came with a team of believers who “provided for Him out of their means” (Luke 8:3). He did not come providing for himself thru the means of a self sustaining business championing helpful products. He Himself was the product!
When Jesus came, it evoked such extravagant acts of worship & “wastefulness” to God that it caused one of Jesus’ very own disciples to betray Him (Mark 14:3-10).
Will we recognize Jesus when He comes?
“Behold, the former things have come to pass, & NEW THINGS I now declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isa 42:9)
He’s doing a new thing! How do we know?
By abiding in His presence & hearing His voice above all others. Those who know Him, know His voice. (John 10:4)