Behold!

We are often exhorted (and rightly so) to direct our hearts and minds towards the Saviour when we gather to remember him on a Lord's Day morning. To take a fresh glimpse with the eye of faith as it were and 'behold' him, in other words to survey his person and character and meditate upon him. This can only be a good thing, as it will surely draw out worship from our hearts!

I was thinking of a series of scriptures that use this word 'behold' in connection with the Lord Jesus and hope that it draws our eye towards him again. I shall list the ones I was thinking of briefly here, with little or no comment, so you can add your own thoughts and meditations.

1. "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth..." Isa 42:1
1. Here is the prophet speaking the mind of God, speaking of the Lord Jesus, the perfect servant
2. A man in whom his soul delights, how different from all other men! He was daily his delight (Pro 8)
2. "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child... Luke 2:34
1. What a statement! Behold this child... the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!
3. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29
1. The Lord Jesus at the commencement of his earthly ministry
2. The perfect spotless Lamb of God (hinting back to the Passover Lamb)
3. Also hinting forward to the time he would offer himself as the Lamb, without spot to God for the sins of the world
4. As they turned to behold, they would see a normal man, no beauty that they should desire him!
4. "and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" Matthew 11:19
1. This was the Jews perspective, their assessment!
2. What a friend we have in Jesus!
3. The common people heard him gladly
4. He cam not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
5. "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" John 11:36
1. For once their assessment was correct! Him whom thou lovest is sick...
2. A glimpse at his humanity - he is touched by the feelings of our infirmities!
3. A man of sorrows...
4. How we could put this statement over the cross, in relation to ourselves, behold how he loves us!
6. "Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!... and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!" John 19:5 & 14
1. His suffering at the hands of men - their mocking tones
2. They set him at nought
7. "And the people stood beholding." Luke 23:35
1. The scene at Calvary, what a sight would have met their eyes...
2. His visage was marred more than any mans
3. His pierced hands and his feet, his precious blood shed!
4. "See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!"
8. "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:39
1. A risen Saviour, we believe it and rejoice!
2. Lovely words - "that it is I myself!"
9. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." John 17:24
1. What a wonderful prospect awaits us!
2. Faith will give place to sight, we shall see his face!
3. "but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2

I trust these simple thoughts will be a help and blessing to us all.