1/5/18

AMAZING!!! by Gary Rose


When I saw the picture of the beach, only one word came to mind: 
AMAZING!
And I thought of how nice it would be to be walking on that beach and seeing that AMAZING sky!!! What could be better? Well, I imagined I was a certain someone else and I think after you read the following you will know who I mean...


John, Chapter 20 (World English Bible)
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.  19 When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 


  20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.  21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”   22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit!   23  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” 



  24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.  25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” 



But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 
  26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”   27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” 



  28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!    (emphasis added)



If I were Thomas reflecting upon this event years later, I might sing the hymn "I stand amazed" to myself from time to time. How wonderful that would be!!! Well, I am not Thomas, but I could picture myself on that beach, AMAZED at that sky. Also, I could very easily picture myself singing that hymn to myself (which I do from time to time).

One thing more- I could imagine hearing a noise behind me and turning around and seeing Jesus- AMAZING!!!