Charles H. Gabriel – My Savior’s Love (I Stand Amazed)    I hope you enjoy this version as you read the words.

1.I stand amazed in the presence           
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Refrain:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
2.For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

3.In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

4.He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.

5.When with the ransomed in glory
His face I, at last, shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Luke 22:41-44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The crucifixion of Jesus was a time of personal anguish for the perfect, loved Son of God. He was under such stress that sweat was wrung out of His body like great drops of blood.

I know it a true that He suffered all of that for us, but it is also just as true that He agonized over what was in store for Him.

The perfect Son of God had never been at odds with His Father, never crossed Him in any way, and always pleased His Father. The Son, who was loved intensely and who loved His Father equally intensely, was facing something new. Something terrible.

It was bad enough to suffer the physical death and the humiliation of a crucifixion. Even worse, He would also absorb His Father’s wrath against sin, and He knew what His Father’s wrath against sin was like.

Jesus knew it was coming as He knelt in the garden. No wonder He agonized over His imminent crucifixion. No wonder He asked three times if there was some other way. “If possible, let this cup pass from me.” Angels came to offer support as He awaited His crucifixion.

And God the Father? Could you willingly do that to your child? Could you pour out your wrath and make your child pay for all the despicable sins of the most despicable people? It must have wrenched each of their hearts.

It was a terrible time.

The last verse of that song – “When with the ransomed in glory His face I, at last, shall see, it will be my joy through the ages to sing of His love for me.”
Chorus – “Oh, how marvelous, Oh, how wonderful; and my song shall ever be. Oh, how marvelous, Oh how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me.”

I am amazed. Are you amazed? This song has been going over and over in my mind for days. Can you sing it with me? Do you see what it cost Him? Do you see how much He loves you?

Words to light your path

Matthew 26:36-39, 42-44

36.Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ”Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
37.And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38.Then He said to them, ”My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39.He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
42.Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
43.And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44.So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”

Heavenly Father, open our eyes so we can comprehend Your amazing love and the amazing love of Jesus that would enable Him to endure such agony that we might be reconciled to You.