Surprised is what happens to us. 

Prepared is where God wants us to find ourselves. 

Mary was surprised by the Angel who told her she would be pregnant.

Mary was then prepared for the pregnancy and birth by visiting her cousin Elizabeth to help with her pregnancy. 

Joseph was surprised by Mary’s pregnancy. 

Joseph was then prepared by the Angel’s instructions to not divorce Mary. 

Mary was surprised to be the chosen mother of the Savior. 

Mary chose to become prepared to be her Lord’s handmaiden servant.

Joseph was surprised to be the father of the Savior.

Joseph chose to become prepared to take care of his/His family. 

The scene, 30 years later, saw surprise by being introduced to the Son of Man who was prophesized to be Savior. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” they said.

John the Baptist beckoned others to prepare: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

John’s audience was surprised by this chosen moment. 

But the prophet Isaiah had prepared them (700 years prior) to hear: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “

The paths to Him surely were surprised by their straightening. 

The Lord was prepared to make His Way.

The skeptics were surprised that they were not saved simply by being children of Abraham. 

John the Baptist boldly spoke to prepare them for demise or repentance. “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The surprise of deliverance brings desire of repentance and baptism.

The humbling thru repentance prepares us to be baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire”.

We are surprised in life by the voice of Jesus calling us to come to Him. 

We are prepared for life when we hear the unchanging voice of Jesus saying “I am already here with you”.

We are surprised by our own experiences. 

We are prepared by the Lord to keep going. 

We are surprised by God’s love. 

We are prepared for God’s plan. 

We are surprised to be chosen.

Jesus was prepared to choose us.

We are surprised, but we are MORE prepared to be blessed.

Blessed. Be Blessed.

Amen