I Stand Amazed

Have you ever been astounded? I mean, has anything ever been so spectacular that it left you speechless? How about amazed – ever been amazed? We’ve all seen athletes accomplish some astonishing feats and been awestruck. We’ve all heard musicians perform so stunningly that it put goosebumps on our arms and tears in our eyes.

What about Jesus? Are you impressed as you read (and see in your mind’s eye) the historical gospel accounts of Jesus performing miracles? Does the cross and resurrection of Jesus move you to the point of changing your life to live for Him? Paul writes, “He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore, from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Corinthians 5:15-17)?

I believe Jesus died and rose again and is alive forevermore. I have total faith that He is seated at the right hand of God. And, even though I believe I still stand amazed at how and what God has done for me in Christ. I stand amazed!

One of my favorite hymns is I Stand Amazed. Each stanza is amazing as it builds toward our home in heaven. The chorus is beautiful: How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be. How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!

Read Luke 24:13-35 and then listen to I Stand Amazed.

And behold, on that very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they came to a stop, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You possibly the only one living near Jerusalem who does not know about the things that happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What sort of things?” And they said to Him, “Those about Jesus the Nazarene, who proved to be a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us left us bewildered. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. And so some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.

And they approached the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. And so they strongly urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” They began to relate their experiences on the road, and how He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread.