Jesus Christ is a startling person, so much that all history is clustered around Him, either BC or AD. And yet He was so consumed in His Father's will that He became, one could say, invisible to those around Him. He was so obedient to His earthly parents that they lost track of Him for three days. They knew He wouldn't be into any mischief, He would know when it was time to head home, He was where He was supposed to be, because that's where He always was. In His mind and in His actions, He was 100% into the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Mary and Joseph trusted Him implicitly, because He had proved Himself to be trustworthy.

As He entered His public ministry at the age of 30, his mother asked Him to remedy the refreshment shortage at a wedding feast. We can only imagine how many times He had found a lost darning needle, had prayed that Heavenly Father would multiply food when relatives arrived unannounced, had applied clay poultices to wounded pets of His playmates, asking for a miracle. Mary knew what He was like. How startling it was then, when He seemed to say He wasn't going to do anything for the embarrassed wedding host. Then He appears to change His mind, and transforms water into wine.

When news of the grave illness of His friend Lazarus came to Him, He seemed to dismiss the message. After waiting two days, the disciples marvel at His words, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad...that I was not there." A startling thought: Did the Savior by choice avoid the home of His suffering friend? "What were you thinking?" Asked Lazarus' two sisters as they met Christ near the grave site. Startling behavior!

When His friend and cousin, John, was in jail for his politically incorrect rebuke to the haughty, adulterous King Herod, Jesus neither went to visit him, nor performed a miracle to release him. When John's disciples came to Christ with the imprisoned man's question, "Are you the ONE who is to come, or should we look for another?" Christ answers nothing.

As the disciples wonder at His silence, the sick and afflicted came to Him to be healed. A word, a touch of Christ's hand, opened blind eyes to behold the light of day. He rebuked disease and banished fever. His voice reached the ears of the dying, and they arose in health. Paralyzed demoniacs obeyed His word, their madness left them, and they worshiped Him. Only "the One that should come" could have done those things. And yet, there was John, languishing in prison and finally, beheaded. Startling behavior for a friend!

He had been telling his disciples for some time that He was going to be betrayed, beaten and crucified. But, because of who He was and what He could do, they didn't believe Him. When it happened just as He predicted, they were incredulous. WHAT? "...we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel, " (Luke 24:21) And now, He's dead. Another startling outcome.

After His resurrection He appeared in "another form" (Mark 16:12) to two discouraged disciples on Emmaus Road. Again, the startling Jesus unravels Himself, "...beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27.

I'll tell you folks, there's more there to Him than meets the eye. We need to study Him as He unfolds Himself in His day to day, startling and sometimes transparent appearances and transactions. We think we know Him. Ha! He fooled His best friends. I could tell you things He believed, things He taught. But you wouldn't believe me.

The only Christ you will ever believe is the One who talks to you personally. And He says He does that, most especially; "...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." John 6:63 "Search the scriptures, for therein ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." John 5:39 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.