Stunned by God: An Incredulous Encounter

Everyone expects an encounter with God when they enter church—even unbelievers. We hope to encounter Him in His Word, or when praying. Some of us look for Him in the beauty of creation, and still others anticipate His presence in times of focused solitude. But how many of us expect an encounter with God at work, the grocery store, or while cleaning the bathroom? Perhaps we harbor a limiting belief that God’s presence abides only in sacred spaces. Or maybe we give little attention to his presence once we plunge into our day. When was the last time you were stunned by God in an incredulous encounter?

Meeting God in an unexpected place challenges our preconceived ideas about His identity and actions.

But what if we let God be God?

These thoughts brought to mind a story from the gospel of John where the disciples struggled with the same limiting beliefs we have. Still learning to relate to God as man, they often limited Jesus as God by their assumptions that He would behave within the limitations of humanity.

John 6:16-21 illustrates their flawed perspective:

“ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.”

We must keep in mind that this event occurred after the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus multiplied five barley loaves and two fishes to feed the multitude of 5000 men, plus women and children. Not only had the disciples witnessed that miracle, but they had also witnessed numerous other miracles of healing.

Yet, never expecting Jesus to walk on water, they were stunned by God when He came walking toward them on the Sea of Galilee at night. More than stunned, they sat terrified, until Jesus reassured them of His identity, after which they welcomed Him into the boat.

Now this account penned by John is shorter on details than that of Matthew 14:22-33, where Matthew details Peter’s walk on water, and similar to Mark’s account in Mark 6:45-52. All three gospel writers share a different perspective on the incident allowing the story to resonate in our lives according to our personal need and understanding of Jesus and His identity.

In the passage from John above, John is emphasizing Jesus’ divine authority over nature, but the greater emphasis rests on the presence of Jesus in trial. Matthew’s perspective in including Peter’s walk on water emphasizes issues of faith, doubt, and the power of Jesus, while Mark’s account, again without Peter, emphasizes the divine authority of Jesus in calming the storm.

While the gospel writers differ in perspective, they all relate the fear of the disciples and their lack of recognition of Jesus in this incredulous encounter.

Pondering the account in John’s gospel, led me first to wonder how many unexpected encounters with Jesus I missed because of distraction, or disbelief, and second, would I be stunned to encounter Him in an unexpected place?

Not long after I received my answer, and it took my breath away.

The same two men take our trash away week in, week out, year in, year out: in all kinds of weather. One drives a truck more akin to a relic from the 1960’s, the other collects. If we run late getting the can out to the curb, they come up to the house and get it.

Far from the best dressed, well-groomed men you have ever encountered, they seldom appear without a smile. While I wave when I see them, I never met them face to face.

Each year I find a special treat for them and compose a card and a gift of money for them at Christmas. I suppose I feel they are among society’s hard working but rarely appreciated people. I enjoy wrapping it and leave it on top of the trash can, so they see it. But I ran late that day and thought I had time.

During my prayer time I heard them arrive much earlier than usual, so I grabbed the gifts and ran out into the 10-degree morning, coatless, to give them their gifts.

The young man who collects, was standing in the street, and before I handed him the gifts, he smiled a toothless grin and said, “I appreciate you.” Speechless, I handed him the gifts and thanked him. Still smiling he said, “I am so glad I met you today”. He then hopped on the truck and was gone.

As I stood in the street crying, I was overwhelmed with the love I saw in his eyes. And after I went inside, I knew I had met Jesus. He came, not walking on water, nor in a sacred hush of holy incense, but on sanitation truck, in stained clothing and unkempt beard.

What if we let God be God? We might find we are stunned by God in an incredulous encounter more often.

Here is a poem I wrote afterwards:

I saw Jesus Today

I saw Jesus today.
Scraggly hair and unkempt beard
at first pushed me away.
His dirty clothes and untied boots
my step did hesitate.

But as I placed my meager gift
into His calloused hands,
His toothless grin engaged my heart.
and drew me near to Him.

His eyes locked mine as He spoke
the words I know I’ll ne’er forget,
“I appreciate you,
and I’m so glad we met.”

As tears filled my eyes, supernatural
Light and Love my heart did overwhelm.
And there I stood this cold, gray dawn undone.

While an unexpected encounter with Jesus may not strike fear into our hearts like it did for the disciples, we just might find ourselves overwhelmed by His love.

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