Maybe it’s just me (ask my wife, and she’ll tell you it definitely is), but as I get older, I find myself focusing on things that others might consider obscure or even a little odd. One of these things is a growing appreciation for certain words— words that, to me, simply can’t be replaced. They stand alone in their meaning, capturing nuances and depth that no other term quite matches.
Take, for instance, the word “behold.”
I can almost hear the skeptics now: “What’s wrong with look, see, observe, or view?” There’s nothing wrong with any of those words. They’re all fine choices, each serving a useful purpose. But for me, they somehow fall short when it comes to conveying the richness of behold.
Behold means behold. It carries a weight and significance that other words simply can’t replicate.
I’m reminded of the time I spent with my parents’ old console radio and record player. I used to play 78s (yes, those were real records) and 33 1/3s on repeat. One album, a Lucie Campbell tribute by The Stars of Faith, was a favorite. Among the tracks, there was one that I must have played a hundred times. It was the opening song, “Just to Behold His Face,” and its lyrics still resonate with me today:
Not just to kneel with the angels,
Nor to see loved ones who’ve gone.
Not just to drink at the fountain,
Under the great white throne.
Not for the crown that you’ll give me,
That I’m trying to run this race.
All I want in heaven,
Is just to behold His face.
There it is— the longing to behold. Not just a glance, not just a passing look, but to see deeply, fully, and with a sense of awe that only beholding can capture.
You see, behold means more than just seeing. It’s an invitation to take it all in. To marvel. To be present, not just in the moment, but in the entirety of what you’re witnessing.
It’s not surprising that the word “behold” is used in one of the most famous angelic proclamations in the Bible. Two thousand years ago, when the angel appeared to the shepherds, the King James Version (which, notably, includes the word behold where other translations do not) recorded the message this way:
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
There’s something powerful about the word behold in this context. The angel isn’t just offering information; it’s a command to pay attention. To see and take in the moment with all its gravity and joy.
Behold means behold. It invites us to fully experience the wonder, to linger over it, to reflect on its significance. Think of it like inspecting a treasure. You don’t just glance at it and move on; you pause, you study, you let it fill your senses. You behold.
While we could dive deeper into other uses of this powerful word (including, Pilate’s in John 19), today, I invite you to behold something far greater than we can fully comprehend: Emmanuel, the giver of all hope, peace, joy, and love.
This season, may we fully behold (see and take in) what has occurred—the wonder of God with us.
Categories: Acts17seventeen Christian Christianity Community Follower Of Jesus
Pastor Mark
Mark, the eighth of nine children born to Reuben and Henrietta Meeks—dedicated church planters with nearly 30 congregations established across California’s Central Valley—is a preacher's kid who grew up immersed in faith and service. With over forty years of experience teaching, discipling, and ministering to communities, including the hospitalized and incarcerated, Mark responded to God's call to pastoral ministry. He holds degrees in civil engineering and public administration, as well as a Master’s in Theology from Fuller Seminary, equipping him to serve with both practical insight and spiritual depth.
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