My 11-year-old son Wyatt loves to watch some videos called “Minute Physics.” They feature a young, genius professor who answers mind-boggling questions such as “What is dark matter?” and “How does the sun work?”

Recently my son asked me, “Dad, do you think the universe is infinite?” I looked at him blankly before I began to fumble with a vague philosophical response about “infinity.” Processing my mangled words, I quickly retreated with a theological maneuver—tossing out a comment about God’s mystery. Wyatt looked at me for a moment, unimpressed, and said, “I think I’ll go watch a Minute Physics video and see what he says.”

I understand the shock Joseph and Mary (and all who were gathered in the temple) felt when they encountered young Jesus’ profound curiosity and remarkable conversation. Jesus wasn’t even supposed to be in the temple. His family had left for home, but Jesus stayed behind (Luke 2:43). Three days later, when Jesus’ family returned to Jerusalem and tracked him down, they were shocked to find him “sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions” (Luke 2:46). This wasn’t where they thought Jesus would be or what He would be doing, and He surprised more than just His parents. “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47).

It’s not just the cross and resurrection (Jesus’ unexpected way of redeeming humanity) or Jesus’ disruptive teaching that conflicts with our expectations. He upends all we think we understand. God’s Son, from His first breath to His ascension, confounds our human expectations and categories. This is good news, because our expectations are often too small.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Corinthians 15:42-58