We know that very little about Jesus’ life on earth took the shape that people expected from the long-awaited Messiah. He may have ultimately fulfilled thousands of years of prophecies, but he managed to do it in an altogether unorthodox, unpredictable, subversive and controversial manner. The Pharisees (who knew the Scriptures better than anyone) were outraged and perplexed, angry and threatened. The crowds were desperate but confused, fascinated but fickle. His followers were all-in but sometimes exasperated, and often baffled. How could Jesus do the things he did? (And why was he such an awkward dinner guest?). 2000 odd years later, it’s easy to forget how troubling a figure he was. We’re wondering how long it’s been since you were shocked by something Jesus did or said, or electrified? Or overcome by sheer joyous delight and surprise at how good he is? This season of Open Me is an invitation to something unsettling. It is an invitation to allow ourselves to be bewildered, upended and bamboozled by the sheer brilliance, blazing love and subversive wisdom of Jesus. And to that end we invited some of our artist friends to create the devotionals, so they might feel a little…surprising.