Unexpected Jesus: How the Resurrected Christ Finds Us, Meets Us, Heals Us

Jesus shows up where we least expect him—to Mary Magdalene in the garden, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and 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.

Dr. Eric Rivera is the Lead Pastor at The Brook, a multiethnic church in Chicago that he and his team planted in 2013. Eric is passionate for urban pastoral ministry and seeing God raise gospel-centered leaders. He has a B.A. in Bible Theology from Moody Bible Institute, M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology at Trinity.

In addition to his pastoral work, he is an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has authored two books, contributed to others, and has written online articles for multiple websites. He speaks at conferences nationwide and serves with his wife Erikah Rivera on the national speaker team for FamilyLife’s Weekend To Remember marriage getaways. You can follow him on twitter / X at @drericrivera.