And yet, and yet…

I like to laugh at biblical language sometimes. With the centuries of translations, interpreters have turned out some very interesting language. I like the idea in today’s context just to shout out “Hark!” Not for any good reason, but because it startles folks. And when asked on my favorite Bible verse, I often point to the King James Version of the Lazarus story and Martha’s attempt to keep Jesus from opening the tomb: “Lo, he stinketh!”

Then we come to words like abide and behold. They’re active words, yet not words we would use often in regular life. And yet, they seem pivotal and foundational in the way they’re used in Scripture, in particular in directing relationship with God. For Him to live among us, to place His home in our hearts, to live alongside us in heaven: what earth-shaking manifestations of grace!

And when called to look at Him, the call is to behold! It’s not to prepare to perform or build up a list/CV of qualifications to present yourself before Him, though that is the way of our world. No, we’re directed to behold Him.

To behold is a grace. Our interaction with Jesus is offered freely and without hindrance or intercessor. And in the context of worship, to behold is both the foundation and apex. To worship is to behold; to behold brings worship.

As Easter approaches, many will be tempted to go to church to check the box. Uncomfortable suits will be put on, religious-type talk will go on, and nominal believers will march in to fulfill an expectation. Do you know friend that Jesus doesn’t want your checkbox? The call for you, saint and sinner, is to behold the empty tomb, the mystery of the Resurrection of Christ, the bliss of His glory. He tells us to place our anxieties before Him because He cares for us. The message of Christianity is not come and do, but go and behold.

When we behold, we see the fullness of perspective, the greatness of His glory, the depth of our sin in light of His perfection, and the hope of grace through His sacrifice. We are presented with the fact of Resurrection, which we cannot hope to understand, yet place the totality of our hope in. We run to the tomb to behold; we wonder at the empty place that rings the peal of victory over death. And at the tomb we behold the One who knows our name.

This Easter, behold Him.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us  (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (American Standard Version)