One of the sections of Scripture where I personally prefer the King James or New King James version of the Bible over other translations (besides Psalm 23 and Luke 2:1-20) is in this very section of the first chapter of John. For example the NIV says: “Look, the Lamb of God …” while the NKJV says: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
I’m sorry, but in the context of what’s happening at this moment in the life of John and Jesus – and for that matter the whole human race, “Look” just doesn’t get it. This is a time that definitely calls for a “Behold” if you ask me. You can use the more common and mundane “look” for a variety of experiences in our lives. “Look, there’s a squirrel climbing across that power line,” or “look, at that platter of Christmas cookies,” or maybe even: “look, doesn’t that snow bank look like DaVinci’s “Last Supper?”
But “Behold?” It’s a way of making it crystal clear that we’re pointing to something that doesn’t occur on the average day. This is something to cast our eyes upon that pushes the edge on the significance meter. This is something to burn in the memory banks so that when asked: “where were you when you heard John introduce Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?” you’ll be ready in a split second with your answer.
We have a lot of “look” moments each Christmas. “Look, I’m about to plug in the lights on the Christmas tree for the first time this Christmas” – only to hear a few moments later: “look, half of that light strand isn’t working.” Or your teenage son saying, “look at what great aunt Bertha sent me for Christmas,” only to be followed up by his mom saying: “Look honey, I’ve never seen a crocheted Frosty the Snowman sweater – complete with three dimensional top hat and stuffed carrot nose. You can wear that to school on the first day back.” There may be a time or two when you hear, “look at who sent us a Christmas card. We haven’t heard from them in years.”
But what are the “Behold” moments will we have this Christmas? Does it only happen if you have a big red bow wrapped around a brand new car in the garage? Or does it take some “Walton-like Christmas miracle” of making it home through the blizzards before it qualifies? Or does it take a small filled ring box, a bended knee, and a special moment of nervous popping the question in order to make the “Behold” list?
I would suggest that we can also gather together with family and friends and share a “John the Baptist” Christmas moment as we listen to this powerful voice from the past as he once again cries out: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” And then we can build on that “John the Baptist” Christmas “Behold” moment as we do what two of John’s disciples did after hearing those words spoken that day near the banks of the Jordan. They began to follow Jesus and to find out for themselves what John meant when he gave him such a profound title. I’m sure they viewed it as a “Behold” moment for the rest of their lives (and the next). Wouldn’t our new year look and live differently if we came out of this Christmas with a new love for this “Behold” moment and made it a part of how we lived and loved in 2009 and beyond?
I’m sorry, but in the context of what’s happening at this moment in the life of John and Jesus – and for that matter the whole human race, “Look” just doesn’t get it. This is a time that definitely calls for a “Behold” if you ask me. You can use the more common and mundane “look” for a variety of experiences in our lives. “Look, there’s a squirrel climbing across that power line,” or “look, at that platter of Christmas cookies,” or maybe even: “look, doesn’t that snow bank look like DaVinci’s “Last Supper?”
But “Behold?” It’s a way of making it crystal clear that we’re pointing to something that doesn’t occur on the average day. This is something to cast our eyes upon that pushes the edge on the significance meter. This is something to burn in the memory banks so that when asked: “where were you when you heard John introduce Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?” you’ll be ready in a split second with your answer.
We have a lot of “look” moments each Christmas. “Look, I’m about to plug in the lights on the Christmas tree for the first time this Christmas” – only to hear a few moments later: “look, half of that light strand isn’t working.” Or your teenage son saying, “look at what great aunt Bertha sent me for Christmas,” only to be followed up by his mom saying: “Look honey, I’ve never seen a crocheted Frosty the Snowman sweater – complete with three dimensional top hat and stuffed carrot nose. You can wear that to school on the first day back.” There may be a time or two when you hear, “look at who sent us a Christmas card. We haven’t heard from them in years.”
But what are the “Behold” moments will we have this Christmas? Does it only happen if you have a big red bow wrapped around a brand new car in the garage? Or does it take some “Walton-like Christmas miracle” of making it home through the blizzards before it qualifies? Or does it take a small filled ring box, a bended knee, and a special moment of nervous popping the question in order to make the “Behold” list?
I would suggest that we can also gather together with family and friends and share a “John the Baptist” Christmas moment as we listen to this powerful voice from the past as he once again cries out: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” And then we can build on that “John the Baptist” Christmas “Behold” moment as we do what two of John’s disciples did after hearing those words spoken that day near the banks of the Jordan. They began to follow Jesus and to find out for themselves what John meant when he gave him such a profound title. I’m sure they viewed it as a “Behold” moment for the rest of their lives (and the next). Wouldn’t our new year look and live differently if we came out of this Christmas with a new love for this “Behold” moment and made it a part of how we lived and loved in 2009 and beyond?
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