Unexpected Jesus: How the Resurrected Christ Finds Us, Meets Us, Heals Us
The risen Jesus meets us in our mess.
Jesus shows up where we least expect him—to Mary Magdalene in the garden, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Thomas when he is full of insecurity. Just as the resurrected Jesus surprised his disciples, he also surprises us today, showing up in the midst of our sorrows, uncertainties, and joys.
In Unexpected Jesus, pastor Eric Rivera examines Jesus’s appearances after his resurrection to show us how Jesus meets us today. Eric shares his own stories of God showing up amid financial uncertainty, pregnancy loss, a grim medical diagnosis within his family, and the unrest and uncertainty of 2020. Eric’s insights will encourage readers as they look to meet God in their own times of uncertainty.
The same Jesus who was present with his followers meets us in our mess today. When we feel confused or abandoned, Jesus finds us. When he arrives, the master teacher meets us with questions and guides us into a revelation of who he is. And as we walk with him, he heals us and is faithful in his promise to be with us always.
Praise for Unexpected Jesus
I look forward to reading this book with people who don’t know Christ, new Christians, and mature Christians in order to have important conversations about Christ’s powerful and healing presence in our lives.
—Dennae Pierre, codirector, City to City North America and The Crete Collective; director, The Surge Network
Unexpected Jesus is a smoothly written book perfect for anyone interested in a deeper, guided devotional read.
—Emanuel Padilla, president of World Outspoken
Eric’s fresh, insightful, and heartwarming accounts of the resurrection appearances of Jesus will bring help, hope, and healing to many.
–Colin S. Smith, senior pastor, The Orchard Evangelical Free Church; founder and Bible teacher, Open the Bible (openthebible.org)
If you are feeling worn out, impatient, or battered by life, this book will be a comfort for your soul.
–David Robbins, president and CEO, FamilyLife
- The Resurrected Jesus Meets Us in Our Mess
- When We Are Weeping: Jesus Comforts Us
- In Our Hopelessness: Jesus Lights Our Heart
- During Times of Doubt: Jesus Shows the Way
- During Times of Powerlessness: Jesus Carries Us
- When You Make Mistakes: Jesus Forgives
- At the End: Jesus Completes the Story
- When Crisis Comes: Jesus Speaks
- Title: Unexpected Jesus: How the Resurrected Christ Finds Us, Meets Us, Heals Us
- Author: Eric Rivera
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2022
- Pages: 176
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 5.25x8.25
- ISBN: 9781683596547
Eric Rivera is lead pastor and church planter, with his wife, Erikah, of The Book, a multi-ethnic church in Chicago. He and Erikah are national speakers for FamilyLife’s Weekend To Remember marriage getaways and contributors to FamilyLife’s The Art of Parenting video series and The Story of Us couples devotional. Eric is the author of Christ is Yours: The Assurance of Salvation in the Puritan Theology of William Gouge.