Though our Bible translations are not in chronological order, from one point of view, it is of value to have the books of the Bible in the order that we have them. In the New Testament, the first books are the Gospels. In them, you have an introduction to Jesus Christ. In the Book of Acts, you have an experience, not only of redemption but of the power of God. The Epistles that follow the outpouring of the Holy Ghost explain Christ and what was received.
In Isaiah 52:14, the prophet, writing about this coming Christ, says, “As many as were astonied at thee…” The word astonied means to be filled with wonder, or astonished. There is no one like Jesus. In His life and earthly ministry, He was despised and rejected of men. He was cursed, blasphemed, lied upon, betrayed, falsely arrested, tempted by Satan, sought to be killed by a king, accused of working miracles through the power of the devil, and crucified. He was spat on, had His beard plucked from His Face, and they nailed His body to the cross. He suffered all of these experiences because, as the prophet said in Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report?” They did not believe the record presented and declared about Him. They thought He was the illegitimate offspring of an illicit affair between Joseph and Mary. In Matthew 13:55, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary?” However, as He was being crucified, He prayed, “…Father, forgive them” (Luke 3:34). Christ is astonishing!
The Father said in Matthew 17:5, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased…” The Glorified Son of God, when we see Him, will be clothed in a white and shining garment. His head and hair will be white like wool, white as snow. His eyes are as a flame of fire, and His feet are like copper glowing in a furnace. His voice is as the sound of many waters, His countenance is as the sun, He is holding seven stars and from His mouth goes a sharp sword. He is the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Rock of Ages, the Shelter in the time of the storm. He is the Healer, the King of King’s and Lord of Lords. His Reign is from everlasting to everlasting, and He is going to put everything under His feet to the Glory of God. He was crucified, and He raised from the dead. He is God. (That is a brief mention of Him Who is All in All and beyond description). We will be amazed and stand as dumb before Him for His Majesty and Greatness shall be seen. We shall see Him as He is, in all His infinite, universal, and eternal glory.
In Isaiah 50:6 He said, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” Now the end of the story we see in Revelation 3:21, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Our ASTONISHING CHRIST!
by Robert Turnage