jESUS — Blog — Glenn E. Pearson

Well, that’s not EXACTLY the way Hebrews 13:2 reads in the King James Version. It’s actually, “for thereby some have entertained angels UNAWARES.” This is one of those verses middle school boys love to “modify.”

One of my good friends Russell is often a strong contender for the Job-of-the-Year Award. He has weathered the murder of two uncles, other untimely deaths on both sides of the family, medical adversities for family members, several unexpected job losses in the high-tech world on the heels of what seemed to be successful rides, a stint in the unemployment line, and the normal anxieties that come from raising teenagers.

But his greatest source of stress has been his wife Jessica’s ongoing, serious health problems. She has suffered debilitating pain for years, having seen multiple specialists and has undergone at least ten surgeries, none of which have fully solved her issues. The latest blow came late last year when she discovered she also had cancer that would require urgent surgery.

Through all these pressures, both Russell and Jessica have faithfully trusted God.

Several months ago, Jessica went in for surgery. Since it was too early to check Jessica in, they both sat by the hospital’s Bistro eatery while it was still dark with the roll-down gate blocking the entrance. Russell went to assess the check-in status and, just then, a food service worker walked out of the darkness of the Bistro and, through the metal gate, offered Jessica two bags containing hot egg, bacon and cheese croissants and chilled bottles of orange juice. She then blessed Jessica concerning her upcoming day and noted she wanted no payment. The worker then faded back into the Bistro’s darkness. Russell came back just in time to see the lady wishing Jessica well, and Jessica teared up as she recounted the whole story to him. Russell remarked it was an unexpected kind gesture and exactly what he would have ordered.

Later that morning, Russell’s dad, Bob, was sitting with Russell in the waiting area and saw him eat the remaining croissant sandwich, noting that it looked delicious. Bob decided to go to the Bistro to get one for himself.

When he got there, he didn’t see an egg, bacon and cheese croissant on the menu, so he asked the server if it was an off-menu item. He mentioned a food service worker had given his son two for free that morning. The server explained that they didn’t even have all the ingredients to make one of those, and a medical technician standing in line behind Bob noted that it would be very odd for them to hand out free food to people waiting outside the Bistro.

What should we make of this mysterious croissant incident? I know some people assume that a potato chip that looks like the Virgin Mary must be some kind of message from God. At the other extreme, some people deny that God ever does anything unusual.

Deism is a religious view that teaches that once God created the world, he essentially bailed, leaving the world on autopilot. Some Christians fall into what amounts to “practical deism.” They believe in Jesus but don’t expect him to do anything in their lives today. Perhaps this is an over-reaction to the “Virgin Mary Potato Chip Crowd,” but what a slap in the face to God!

Prayer would be pointless if Jesus were an absentee God. Right before his crucifixion, he promised he would send the Holy Spirit to be with us and guide us (John 16). Furthermore, he assured us he would never leave or desert us (Hebrews 13:5) but instead would be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)

Russell is a rational, thoughtful, mature Christian, not prone to emotionalism or crazy theories. He seemed almost apologetic as he told me the croissant story. “What do you make of this?” he asked.

I told him this sounds like what I call a “little kiss from Jesus,” a small way of reminding Russell and Jessica that, even though their prayers about her health were not answered as they hoped, he hadn’t abandoned them.

Although you can’t expect or demand “a miracle a day,” our loving God wants you to fully believe he is with you on your side and that you should turn to him in both good times and bad.

Was that mysterious food service worker an angel? Who knows? But Hebrews 13:2 teaches that supernatural interactions sometimes happen. In this case, instead of offering hospitality, Russell and Jessica may have been on the receiving end

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“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” – Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

Do you think Russell’s story truly involved a supernatural encounteR?
To what extent do you expect God to be active in your life?
Does your relationship with God have enough “give and take” that you are not surprised when he moves in your life in an usual way?