The Unexpected Messiah: When God Defied All Expectations

What They Were Expecting

As we’ve seen in our journey, Israel was waiting for the light in profound darkness—politically oppressed, spiritually yearning, desperately hoping for deliverance. God had proven Himself a faithful promise keeper throughout their history, promising Abraham, David, and the prophets that a Deliverer would come. Now, after centuries of waiting, their expectations had crystallized into a clear picture: the Messiah would be a conquering King who would set up rule and save them from their oppressors.

This wasn’t unreasonable. The Hebrew Scriptures spoke of the Messiah’s glory, authority, and eternal reign. The Jewish world relied on these divine attributes while watching for their Messiah. They expected power, anticipated triumph, and were looking for a warrior-king who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s glory.

But as God so often reminds us, “My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). The unexpected Messiah came in a way that shocked everyone who encountered Him. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Jesus arrived not with the expected fanfare of conquest, but with the unexpected humility of incarnation.

What He Actually Gave Up

Paul’s description in Philippians reveals the stunning reality of the unexpected Messiah: “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation.” Jesus veiled several of His godly attributes when He came down from heaven. Consider what the eternal Son voluntarily set aside:

First, He gave up His glory and face-to-face communion with the Father. Before the incarnation, Jesus shared the Father’s glory—the glory He had with Him before the world existed (John 17:5). He dwelt in unapproachable light, surrounded by angelic worship, in perfect unmediated fellowship with the Father. At Bethlehem, He traded infinite glory for the dimness of a stable, the splendor of heaven for the poverty of earth, the immediate presence of the Father for the limitations of prayer and dependence.

Second, He relinquished His godly authority to humble Himself completely to the Father’s will. Though equal with God, Jesus took the position of a servant. In His earthly ministry, He consistently said, “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). The unexpected Messiah came not wielding divine authority but submitting to the Father’s direction at every turn.

Third, He restricted His divine attributes to submit to the Spirit’s guidance. Jesus, who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, limited Himself to human constraints. He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), became weary and needed rest, and He depended on the Holy Spirit’s anointing for ministry. The almighty Creator experienced what it meant to be dependent, guided, and empowered—just like us.

Fourth, He embraced eternal poverty instead of eternal riches. Though He was rich, for our sake He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9). Born in a borrowed manger, with no place to lay His head during ministry, buried in a borrowed tomb—the unexpected Messiah lived an earthly life of material poverty and humble circumstances that defied all expectations of a divine King.

Fifth, and most staggering, He experienced broken fellowship with God. The Son who had never known a moment’s separation from the Father felt God’s wrath when He bore the world’s sins on the cross. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus didn’t just visit our world—He took upon Himself the full weight of our alienation from God.

Why He Did It

Here’s the breathtaking truth: Jesus is and has always been fully God. His deity never diminished. But for a brief period in the scope of eternity, He voluntarily gave up some of His rights to also become fully human—with all of our weaknesses, needs, and frailty. He came not as they anticipated, but as we actually needed.

The Jews expected a Messiah who would conquer Rome. Jesus came to conquer something far more deadly: sin and death themselves. They wanted political deliverance. He brought spiritual redemption. They anticipated a King who would rule from Jerusalem. He established a kingdom not of this world, where He reigns from a throne in heaven yet dwells in the hearts of believers everywhere.

This is the wonder of Christmas—that God would choose such an unexpected path. The all-powerful became weak; the infinite became finite; the eternal entered time; the Creator became creature. Not because He had to, but because He loved us. Not because we deserved it, but because we desperately needed it. The unexpected Messiah accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves: He bridged the infinite gap between holy God and sinful humanity.

The Pattern for Us

Paul presents this passage as a pattern for Christian living: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). The unexpected Messiah calls us to unexpected discipleship. Just as He didn’t cling to His rights and privileges, we’re called to release ours. Just as He humbled Himself to serve, we’re called to the same humility and service.

This season, as we remember the unexpected Messiah, let’s also examine our own expectations. Are we looking for a Jesus who makes our lives comfortable? Do we expect Him to give us the earthly kingdom we want rather than the spiritual kingdom we need? Have we domesticated the Savior who defied all expectations into someone who simply fulfills ours?

Jesus still surprises us. He still accomplishes His purposes through weakness rather than strength, humility rather than pride, sacrifice rather than self-assertion. And He still calls us to follow in His unexpected footsteps—downward into service, inward into humility, outward into sacrificial love.

This is the Jesus we celebrate at Christmas: not the conquering King the world expected, but the unexpected Messiah the world desperately needed. And because He gave up glory, we gain it. Because He embraced poverty, we become rich. Because He felt God’s wrath, we experience God’s favor. The unexpected Messiah changed everything by defying every expectation.

Reflection Questions

1. What expectations did you have about who Jesus would be or how He would work in your life? How has He proven to be “unexpected” in ways that were actually better than what you anticipated?
2. Of the five things Jesus gave up (glory, authority, divine attributes, riches, fellowship with God), which one most amazes you? Why?
3. How does understanding that Jesus voluntarily became weak and dependent change the way you view your own weaknesses and dependencies?
4. Where is Jesus calling you to follow His pattern of humility and service by giving up your own rights or privileges for the sake of others?

Prayer

Consider the wonder of the unexpected Messiah—what He gave up, why He did it, and what it means for you. Thank Him for defying expectations in order to meet your deepest need.