So, I’m reading in Mark this morning . . . pretty familiar stuff. Disciples in boat . . . Jesus on mountain praying. Disciples in storm straining like crazy to row against the wind . . . Jesus comes to them walking on the water. Disciples cry out thinking He’s a ghost . . . Jesus calmly speaks to them, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Jesus gets in the boat . . . the wind ceases . . . and then . . . this phrase catches my attention . . .

And they were utterly astounded.    (Mark 6:51b ESV)

The NKJV puts it this way, “And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.” Now, if you read this in the NIV or NLT it loses something . . . “They were completely amazed” . . . “They were astonished at what they saw.” Neither of these convey what I think the ESV or NKJV conveys . . . “utterly astounded” . . . “greatly amazed beyond measure” . . . they were amazed out of their minds!!! Completely beside themselves . . . beyond anything they had ever experienced or felt before. Find the top rating for amazed and they blew the roof off of that . . . their awe-o-meters went nuts! . . . their minds swimming around (no pun intended) to comprehend what they had just seen and the implications of what it told them about who Jesus was. They were greatly amazed beyond measure!!! They were utterly astounded!

And I think to myself, “Self, when was the last time you were amazed out of your mind at who Jesus is? When was the last time you saw Him in His beauty, or in His love, and couldn’t express your amazement . . . couldn’t fathom the wonder you had for Him . . . couldn’t express your adoration for Christ, the Lord?” And I’d have to answer, “Way too long!” Why? How come?

There’s a clue in the next verse, Mark 6:52, “For they did not understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” Just that day they had questioned Jesus when He wanted to feed the crowd of 5,000+ who had been listening to Him teach. They didn’t enter into what Jesus could do. We don’t read of them being amazed beyond measure . . . and the Holy Spirit through Mark says that they did not understand . . . they did not bring together in their mind the implications of what they were seeing . . . they didn’t recognize how amazing the multiplying of the loaves was . . . because “their hearts were hardened.”

Is that why I can go so long and not be amazed out of my mind concerning Jesus? Because my heart is hardened . . . calloused . . . covered with a thick skin . . . dull . . . losing the power of understanding? So caught up with everything else that it dulls my encounters with the living Christ . . . my encounters when I’m reading His word . . . or, when I’m with His people assembled as His body, His bride, His glorious church . . . or, when I encounter His grace and blessing through the day? I suspect I encounter Christ a lot more than my “amazement factor” would indicate.

It’s not that Christ is not amazing beyond measure every day . . . it’s that I’m dull and hardened. . . unfocused on things that transcend this earth.

And so I come across this familiar story this morning . . . and I’m starting to be a bit “utterly astounded”. Seeing Jesus . . . . walking on the water . . . calming the storm . . . getting in the boat with His frail and fickle disciples. Hearing Jesus say to them, and to me as well, “It’s all right! I’m here! Don’t be afraid. Keep seeking Me and you’ll get it!” And I marvel . . . at this same Jesus and His grace and patience toward me. And I’m in awe that this same Jesus has determined to love me and to love me to the end. And I am astounded that this same Jesus has covenanted to take this lump clay and turn it into something for His glory . . . promising to finish the work He has begun.

Utterly astounded . . . oh that I might have eyes to see and ears to hear . . . that I might more often see my Savior, and hear His voice, and be utterly astounded . . . for His glory . . . amen.