Ordained by God before birth, John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ; he was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy as the one who would be calling out in the wilderness for people to repent of sin and return to the Lord (Isaiah 40.3); he was baptizing in the Jordan River those who were making a commitment to follow the Lord and be faithful to His Word. When John saw Jesus, he immediately knew who this man was; revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit he spoke for others to hear, …and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1.29). This was Jesus, the Son of God, who would live to die upon the Cross of Calvary for our salvation.
Might we behold Him throughout our every day. To behold Him is to have our eyes fixed upon Him as the author and completer of our faith (Hebrews 12.2). Might we behold Him in His sacrificial death upon the cross, as Jesus bled and died that we might be cleansed and forgiven of all sin. Might we behold Him in His resurrection, as Jesus rose the victor over sin and death, giving us the hope of our resurrection to His glory. Might we behold Him, knowing He has rescued us from the pit of eternal judgment in hell, delivered us from the mean clutches of the enemy Satan, and brought us to the Heavenly Father clean, forgiven, justified. Might we behold Him in His ascension, as Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1.3), interceding for us before His Throne of Grace. Might we behold Him, as He is providing for us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1.3-4). Might we behold Him as we anticipate His coming again, when the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4.16-17). Might we behold Him who is ever keeping us for Himself and ever protecting us as His own. Might we behold Him, now and always.
Beholding Christ – we have much to be thankful for
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 