When was the last time you were in AWE of something? What caused you to stop and to take in the beauty of wonder?  Was it one of our amazing sunsets here in AZ?  Was it your toes touching the warm sand on a beach looking out over a vast, beautiful ocean?  Perhaps it was when your son or daughter, your friend or loved one looked you in the eye and told you they loved you.  Maybe it was holding a child in your lap, looking at their tiny fingers and hands,wondering at the detail of those little fingerprints, marveling at the intricacy of their design, in awe of the progression of this earthly life.  Whatever that place of wonder in our lives, those moments present us with a pause from the mundane, the everyday of every day.  Sometimes we are startled out of our wonder into that which requires little of our concentration or appreciation but is just a part of living on this earth.  We are lulled back into our patterns, our habits, our needing to get things done.

   Sometimes we marvel at the accomplishments of others around us, of athletes that make those incredible plays that blow our mind, of artists and performers whose giftedness and talent is beyond anything we could ever comprehend as we look at our own lives.  Maybe we look at the creativity of authors, entrepreneurs, politicians, business people, doctors, etc., and respect what they have achieved.  We are in awe of their abilities, perhaps even envious.  Yet, we have a relationship with someone who deserves our constant awe.  We have a resident artist living within us, a creative, loving, accomplishing miracles someone, living in our hearts.  Today, as we begin our Lenten journey together on this Ash wednesday, we are reminded to live in wonder of a Savior who is not only Jesus, he is God.  He was there at creation, he had a part in forming the beach you stood on, the sky that held the sunset you saw.  He formed those little fingers that you held in your hand, he made the voice that expressed that love to you.  Jesus is God.

In Mark 2:1-12 (read it if you get a chance) we find Jesus speaking to an overcrowded house, so crowded that some guys who wanted to see their friend healed dug a whole in the roof and lowered him in front of Jesus so he could be made whole. Jesus uses his authority to heal and forgive. Once again he is asserting his place as the Son of God.  Not only is he a healer, he is the author of healing.  It’s an amazing story in which we usually focus on the guys who lower their friend through the roof. Sometimes we miss what happened as a result of Jesus message and actions. At the end of the passage, one version says this: the people were amazed and worshipped God.  They worshipped God.  

The religious leaders were disgusted with Jesus……..

The crippled man was in awe of his healing……

The crowd and disciples were worshipping God as a result of what they saw!  They worshipped God!

 Jesus is God.  He is someone to marvel at.  He, as God, as Savior, as Redeemer, went to a cross for us. We stand in wonder at the work of this beautiful rescuer.  Having the power to create a universe and all that exists in it, he humbled himself and went to a cross, a brutal execution, on our behalf.  He performed the ultimate healing that day by paying the price for our sins.  He conquered his adversary that day in the most incredible and unique way.  He died so we might live.  He freed us from being slaves to the power of sin.  In essence, he told us to get up and carry our mat, our sins had been forgiven!  He was making sure we knew, he is God. 

 Tonight, as we worship and receive communion, as we marvel at the wonder of his sacrifice, may we recognize how lavish and extraordinary the love of God is, His love that pours down like rain upon us!  May we respond in awe as we approach the table, as we sit in quiet and reflect on the uniqueness of his relationship with us individually and corporately.  May we be humbled and reminded of where we should place our awe, our respect, our priorities as we exit tonight and receive the sign of the cross in ashes.  We have nothing without him. We have everything with him.  Give thanks tonight! May we worship in awe and wonder as we respond to Jesus!