Overwhelmed With Wonder
Are you ready for some thinking? Let’s make that critical thinking. Critical thinking is the application of logic to enable better decision making. And logic? It is correct reasoning. Hang on a moment longer. You need to know that critical thinking is good for both of us. There are genuine benefits to critical thinking. It helps both of us deal with big problems more effectively. It opens the door to possibilities, and enables you and I to make better decisions, solve problems, and see which solution is actually most effective.
In this case both your life and my life depend on critical thinking…clear, reasoned, accurate thinking.
What’s the big deal you ask? Why such mystery?
Did I mention our lives depend on it?
There are two words on my mind today…overwhelmed and wonder.
Do some critical thinking with me about these two words. When we do, you and I will find it much easier to accept a life changing truth. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that after overwhelmed and wonder. Just two words…but words have meaning. These two are significant to understanding the truth.
We’ll begin with overwhelmed. What are we when we find ourselves overwhelmed? Looking at the synonyms for the word helps. When we are overwhelmed, we are overcome. We find words will not come…we are speechless. Overwhelmed causes us to be astounded and amazed. There is a lot of human response in overwhelmed. The overwhelmed we have in mind is filled with positive human emotion. In my experience with nature, a massive towering cumulus cloud filling the western horizon is a prime example of overwhelmed.
This storm was on the way…there is such power and mystery in summer thunderstorms. The hand of God is evident.
Now bring in the word wonder. It is one of my favorite words to use with nature. Searching for wonder in nature never becomes old. Wonder is a rich word. There is miracle in wonder. The natural world is filled with miracles. Wonder is awe…astonishment and amazement. The wonder we are thinking of brings joy and delight to the human heart. Our lives become more fulfilled as we seek wonder in the world around us. That same towering thunder cloud at times causes me to suck in my breath in awe and astonishment. Perhaps it is awe that causes me to be captivated by cumulonimbus clouds. My files contain many photos of such clouds.
The memory of this time is still fresh. It was evening. My eyes and camera lens were turned to the south. My wish was for the clouds there to develop into something impressive. Becoming impatient, I turned around. I actually sucked in my breath and let out an audible “wow!”
Here’s the truth.
When people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder. That’s right. Just seeing Jesus overwhelmed people. Never thought about that before. Neither had I until this morning while reading in Mark 9:15. It reads,
“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.”
There it is in black and white…the truth.
When the people saw Jesus, they were overcome. Jesus astonished them. At the same time…He amazed them. That’s wonder and awe. Jesus is awesome. Jesus is astonishing. My mind had not actually considered these realities in this way before today.
People like us. With eyes to see, ears to hear, noses to smell, fingers to touch and tongues to taste…like us. When they saw Jesus. They RAN to Jesus. Is this significant? Jesus overwhelmed them, filled them with wonder, and caused humans who generally like to take the easy way to actually RUN.
Time to think critically. Were these people of inferior intelligence? Absolutely not. Were they part of a church? No, the church was still to be formed. Was something wrong with them? Well, yes, there was. They were sinners…in need of a Savior. Want to know the truth? These were people like us. They faced serious problems…as we do. They had fears, worries and doubts. Like you and me they worked, laughed, played and loved their families. They became ill, couldn’t sleep and they knew in their hearts they were sinful.
It is the truth. When they saw Him, they ran to Jesus! They were overwhelmed with awe. Jesus produced this response in people. He still does.
This is fact.
But…you say…we cannot see Jesus.
We can. There are two clear ways for us to see Him-today.
Remember those clouds? All of creation reveals the power and love of Jesus. Go outside…look at the clouds…and creation, do this regularly…Jesus formed it all. Then remember, God has given us His Word. The Bible. From beginning to end it points us to Jesus. Some times the presence of Jesus is subdued. At other times Jesus is out front, His presence is real and powerful as in the book of Mark. Jesus still overwhelms. Jesus continues to fill human hearts with wonder. What should we do?
RUN to Him.
The mystery carries beyond the time the storm is overhead. This cloud complex was far into the east when the photo was taken. I always wonder…who got rained on? Was it stormy there?
This photo shows the progression of the storm as it came overhead. This photo was taken after the second photo in the blog. The sunlight on the cloud had diminished as the storm approached, the clouds blocked the sun, and became dark.
The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the glory of God…thunderstorms do that with emphasis.