How marvelous how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous how wonderful
Is my Saviour’s love for me

My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

Whole Heart?

The psalmist commits to give thanks with his whole heart. I like to think of this in terms of no part of my heart will hold back my thanks. I have thought a lot about that expression “with my whole heart”.

When my first son was born I remember thinking how I loved him with my whole heart. But then I thought, if that is true can I love anything else. That is, was there any part of my heart left to love anything else. I pondered this and finally concluded that loving him with my whole heart did not mean I could love nothing else. See, I could love him with my whole hear AND still love others, I was simply declaring there was no part of my heart that did not love him.

The same can be true with our love for God. We should love him with our whole heart. We can still love others at the same time. In fact He commands us to. Even still, there should be no part of our heart that does not love Him, especially when we remember all of His wonderful deeds.

How marvelous how wonderful

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 ESV

We are motivated to give thanks when we remember and recount all of our Lord’s wonderful deeds. “With my whole heart”. There is no part of my heart that is not committed to this. Can you echo the Psalmist’s dedication? If not, why? Commit today to all-encompassing praise.

Wonder introduces a quality of admiration to our astonishment. We marvel at His love for us and then admire the incredible sacrifice it required. How do you show admiration for lessor acts of love? Certainly your response to His love should dwarf those. Does it?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about your love for God. Is it whole-hearted or half-hearted? Ouch, right? Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, help me respond to Your love today.” 

Change of Heart

Consider this. When Jesus showed HIs love for us, our love was not whole-hearted. It was not even half-hearted. Frankly, our heart was not in it, because we did not love Him at all.

Have you ever acknowledged that? Have you confessed to Jesus there was a time when you did not love Him at all? When you come to see the darkness of your life contrasted against the light of His love, you experience a change of heart. You are motivated to praise. He loves us with His whole heart and showed it by offering His whole life. Worship Him!

Is my Saviour’s love for me

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

Here we find the inspiration for our continual praise and thanksgiving. We were still sinners when Christ offered His marvelous, wonderful love to us. That makes it even more so in every way. Take a few minutes on this day of love to marvel and wonder at His love anew.

Jesus loves you. A recent commercial series advanced this idea “He Gets Us”. That’s true. He gets us like no one ever could, and even though He does, He still loves us, which makes His love even more remarkable. Jesus knows you, and still loves you. Sit in that love for a time.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about what Jesus endured for us. He obeyed the Father by suffering and dying alone. Give Him glory by praying a simple prayer like this, “Jesus, help me to rest in Your love right now.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing the burden that was mine. I could never have shouldered it, none of us could, so You did it for al of us. Hallelujah! In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
How marvelous how wonderful – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-valentine-s-day-the-background-4843790/
Is my Saviour’s love for me – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/14/doctor-turned-priest-claims-have-solved-mystery-jesuss-death/

He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone

My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

Going Up to Calvary

Though the Scriptures teach us Jesus had a little help getting that cross up the hill for His crucifixion, no one could help Him with the burden of sin. That was something He had to handle on His own because He was the only One who could. Think about the cross for a moment though.

After being beaten and scourged, Jesus was forced to carry a very heavy cross, one that would support His weight during crucifixion, up the hill to Calvary. After having endured the emotional trauma of the garden that left Him sweating blood, and the physical toil of the beating, now comes the relational anguish of public ridicule. All that only a precursor to the spiritual isolation of becoming sin. The burden He bore is unfathomable.

He bore the burden to Calvary

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Luke 23:33 ESV

Most translations say the place of the skull or Golgotha, but the KJV renders it Calvary. Whatever name it is called, it is a real place where our real Savior was crucified on a real cross between two real criminals. It is not just a song. It really happened. Do you believe it?

I am grateful Jesus bore the burden of my sin to Calvary, but not only mine, the sin of every person across all time. The weight of this is simply incomprehensible. Staggering under the weight of the cross I can grasp, but not the sins of the world. Marvel at this feat.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about the burden Jesus bore for you, for me. Think about the sounds of the crowd as He made His way through the streets that days ago had been filled with praise. Think of the agony of being condemned to a cross though innocent. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, fill me with wonder as I look to Calvary.” 

He Bore It Alone

There were others standing around: Roman soldiers, some disciples, maybe some religious leaders, and probably some seekers and some skeptics. He was not alone. He even had a criminal on either side of him. All that to say, He was not alone.

So what is the meaning of this line that He suffered and died alone? Though surrounded by a crowd, Jesus experienced in those dying moments a loneliness He had never known for eternity. It was a separation from the Father.

And suffered and died alone

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 ESV

For the first time in eternity the Father and the Son were separated as Jesus became sin for us and the Father turned His face away from Him. There were others standing by, but the isolation He must have felt as He cried out is impossible to fathom. He was alone so You never need be.

Alone. After enjoying a perfect fellowship with the Father forever, something changed. When Jesus took our sin His intimate communion with the Father was fractured, until He satisfied God’s wrath. He suffered alone and died alone. He did it to show His love for us. Hallelujah!

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about what Jesus endured for us. He obeyed the Father by suffering and dying alone. Give Him glory by praying a simple prayer like this, “Jesus, I praise You for Your wonderful expression of love.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing the burden that was mine. I could never have shouldered it, none of us could, so You did it for al of us. Hallelujah! In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
He bore the burden to Calvary – https://racelessgospel.com/2020/03/11/hitching-a-ride-to-calvary-going-jesus-way/
And suffered and died alone – https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/10-things-every-christian-should-know-about-the-cross.html

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

My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

Angel Comfort

Did Jesus, Son of Man, feel acutely the weight of this moment in His body? Did Jesus, the Son of God, need physical and emotional comfort? Did He ask for it? Did He receive it?

Yes. No. No. And yes.

The passage that inspires this portion of the hymn is very interesting. Certainly Jesus felt the crushing weight of what was approaching. Being God, He was able to bear it, so He did not ask for support, though He did ask for it to pass. He yielded to the Father’s will, and whatever that support felt like from the angel in the garden.

Note it was one angel. A few verses later during His arrest involving a handful of Roman soldiers and Temple Guard (see image below) Jesus makes clear He could have asked for legions of angels to deliver Him. He received the strengthening of one angel but refused the deliverance of thousands.

His humanity and deity acknowledged in beautiful symmetry. All driven by love. And obedience to the Father’s will. How marvelous!

To comfort Him in the sorrows

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Luke 22:43 ESV

Though they likely wanted to deliver Jesus from the battle being waged over sin, instead one angel strengthened Him. How do you imagine that happened? Probably not words or anything physical, even though His struggle had a physical dimension. It was a spiritual strengthening.

They came to comfort Him. Exactly how they did that is a mystery. Was it simply their presence? Were they shielding Him from the encroaching darkness which was anxious to consume Him? We can not know for certain how, but we can be certain they came strengthen Him.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about the comfort of angels. t sounds like Jesus received what He may not have even needed. We do need such care a points on our journey. How gracious of God to send His messengers. Make this your simple prayer “God, thank You for your comforting angels.” 

He Bore It Alone

Though the Scripture tells us He was strengthened in the garden by an angel there was no help for Him when it came to bearing the weight of sin. Only He could do that. Only the perfect Son of God could become that substitutionary sacrifice.

What wonderful love!

He bore for my soul that night

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 ESV

Griefs and sorrows, sins and sickness. Jesus bore it all for our souls that night. Aren’t you glad? You could not have born your own, yet He willingly bore them for the whole world. What a marvelous, wonderful love our Savior displayed! Be certain to make it your song forever.

Jesus received comfort because He was preparing to take the sin of the world on His shoulders. He was in agony already and the moment had not yet arrived. When did you last thank Him for bearing your sin-enduced sorrows? Take a moment and thank Him now.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and thank Jesus for bearing your sin and sorrows. He could have asked for angelic deliverance, but obeyed instead. Simply thank Him saying “Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows. You received strength and then suffered alone. Help me to see, feel and know just how marvelous and wonderful is Your love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
To comfort Him in the sorrows – https://www.learnreligions.com/angel-helps-jesus-christ-124059
He bore for my soul that night – https://kdmanestreet.com/tag/jesus-in-the-garden-of-gethsemane-prayed-not-as-i-will-but-as-you-will/

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

My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

No Tears

Jesus was about to take the sin of the world upon His shoulders. He knew that moment was coming. No surprise that the sorrow that consumed Him seemed like death approaching.

His soul felt it. Yet he did not shed tears for the weight He felt, but the weight that was ours to bear without any capacity to do so. The look on His face portrayed in the image above seem to fall woefully short it trying to capture that anguish. He bore it all for the glory of God and for our good.

He had no tears for His own griefs

And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Matthew 26:37-38 ESV

Though He was filled with sorrow, even to the point of death, He shed no tears for his griefs. Instead He asked His disciples to stay with Him and pray. He would need divine strength as He prepared to carry the weight of humanity’s sin to the cross. Marvelous love!

It seems very reasonable that Jesus would not only have cried out in prayer from the sheer pressure of this event, but would have shed tears in the process. Even so, He was not feeling sorry for Himself, but being crushed under the incredible weight of becoming sin for us.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about this sorrow. Recall the deepest sorrow you have ever known and then try to imagine shedding no tears over it because you are consumed with the sadness of others. Thankfully, you did not have to bear it.  Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, thank You for bearing my grief.” 

Drops of Blood

This anguish is simply unfathomable. We lack the capacity to even begin to imagine what Jesus felt in the garden. Even His closest friends could not stay awake while the pressure on Him was so great He was sweating blood.

Seem far-fetched? It is not.

But sweat drops of blood for mine

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 ESV

So great was His grief that it produced a strain in His body forcing blood into His drops of sweat. He literally was sweating blood. This is a real physical condition and one certainly the humanity of God endured as He took on the sins of the world: our sin, His grief.

I can not fathom this. Was He mentally processing the events unfolding? Was He emotionally anticipating the separation from the Father that eternally had never occurred? Was He spiritually grappling with salvation’s cost? Yes, and all the while physically sweating blood.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and imagine you are there in the garden. Jesus returns from a period of prayer so intense He is sweating blood to find you asleep. Though He rebukes you He is not angry. Simply thank Him saying “Lord, be glorified for Your marvelous love.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing my sin. The weight of it was more than I could handle. Knowing that you made a way to lift that burden, and you did so willingly. Thank You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
He had no tears for His own griefs – https://www.bible.com/videos/25232-matthew-26-36-56?collection=6
But sweat drops of blood for mine – https://www.bible.com/videos/25200-luke-22-39-71?collection=6

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned unclean

My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement character your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

Wonder-full Love

The way the writer uses wonder here is not like he is curious about God’s love, as in “I wonder how this will work out?” He is saying that considering God’s love for him fills him with a feeling of surprise mixed with admiration. This feeling is caused by something beautiful, unfamiliar, unexpected or inexplicable. God’s love is all these things.

• Beautiful – possessing qualities that please the sense or mind
• Unfamiliar – having a quality that is not known or with which one is not accustomed
• Unexpected – surprising, or at the very least regarded as unlikely to happen
• Inexplicable – unable to be explained or accounted for

Yep. God’s love is all those and more.

Is this how you feel about the Savior’s love for you?

And wonder how He could love me

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV 

When we see Jesus for who He is, it makes His great love for us all the more amazing. He is without fault or blemish. His love is a rich expression of mercy because we deserve wrath. Instead we receive His love which should evoke amazement and awe. Does it?

He loves you. When was the last time you meditated on that simple truth? Why not do it right now? Think of who He is. Think of who you are. Think of His great love for you. Think about it. Just quiet yourself and think about that life-altering truth. Jesus love you.

Jesus, fill me with wonder at Your love.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about wonder. There is nothing that should fill us with this feeling more than the Saviors’ love. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, fill me with wonder at Your love.” 

Unmerited Cleansing

I could never have gotten myself cleaned up enough to merit an invitation to His throne. I could not even pick up the soap, let alone build up any kind of lather. Fortunately, I did not have to. Christ did all the hard work.

Not only that, but I could never even have realized on my own how filthy I was. Even that knowledge, that awareness, is a demonstration of grace. All of it expressions of His love for me.

A sinner condemned unclean

…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV

Mercy is not getting what you do not deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Eternal life in exchange of eternal death, that is grace and mercy in the highest forms. That should leave us in awe and wonder singing His praise forevermore!

Sinner. That is you. You have sinned. That sin has left you condemned in the eyes of a holy God. That sin has left you unclean, hopeless of washing yourself so you can appear before Him. So He made a way for you to be acquitted and purified through the sacrifice of His Son. Amazing!

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on what it felt like in those moments you first understood the magnitude of your sin. Remember how hopeless you felt? Remember when Jesus changed that to hope in Him? Simply thank Him saying “Father, thank You for offering Jesus in my place.“

Jesus, thank You for the wonder Your love evokes in me. I was hopelessly filthy and aware and you made a way to make me aware, then make clean. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
And wonder how He could love me – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-hands-heart-give-away-love-3042975/
A sinner condemned unclean –  https://pixabay.com/photos/pool-soap-hands-to-wash-to-clean-778207/