Behold His Glory

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Main Idea

Beholding is a transformative posture of praise given in light of God’s glorious splendor.

Behold is another word we don’t often use in everyday language, but we do it all the time, especially when we watch movies about heroes who must overcome obstacles and develop specific characteristics to become who they were meant to be. This is called the Hero’s Journey, and nearly every adventure movie has it. The unassuming hero is removed from their everyday life and thrust into an adventure they rarely ask for. During this journey, they realize their shortcomings, fail to do whatever they are tasked to do, and then usually learn the lesson and embrace who they were meant to be at the climax of the story. Then, they return to their typical environment with a higher capacity to make a difference in their community. The Hero’s Journey is everywhere: Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Frodo in the Lord of the Rings series, Harry Potter, and almost every adventure movie known to man.

Neo stops the bullets in The Matrix when he embraces his destiny. Tom Holland’s Spiderman is trapped under a crumbling warehouse when he remembers what Tony Stark said: “If you are nothing without the suit, you shouldn’t have it.” It’s then that he embraces his inner strength and becomes strong enough to lift the rubble and defeat the bad guy. My favorite movie of all time is Gladiator, and there is a pivotal moment in the movie when the Emperor is fascinated with the impressive Gladiator who just fought so well, so he goes to greet him personally. Until now, Maximus has hidden his identity behind his helmet, and of course, he wants to kill the Emperor for ordering the execution of his family. In this iconic scene, the Emperor asks for his name, and Maximus turns to leave. When the Emperor insists, he has to decide to keep the helmet on or reveal himself to the Emperor. This is where he turns to face the Emperor, removes his helmet, and says, “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

These cinematic moments either take our breath away or make us roar in applause because we get to see the hero demonstrate their moral character, embrace who they are, and become who they were meant to be.

That is true in a human sense because we all want to see our favorite characters take that journey and make those transitions.

How much more, then, can we appreciate, embrace, and adore a God who already is (and always has been) at the end of that journey? He is perfect and already embodies the fullness of everything we want in our earthly heroes, and we get to behold His glory in a more extraordinary way than we ever could for our human heroes.

To get a sense of this, let’s turn to Matthew 17.

Passage

Matthew 17:1–8 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Outline

I – What does Behold mean?

II – Behold who He is

III – Behold what He has done

IV – Behold what He will do

I – What does Behold mean?

Definition

1. Look upon and see – we see this a lot in the South when teenage boys say their famous last words: “Hey y’all, watch this,” which literally translates into, “Behold my stupidity!” And we do!

2. Perceive and understand

3. Regarding God, we are witnessing his splendor, savoring, or, as Psalm 34 says, tasting and seeing that He is good.

When this happens, we go from seeing to beholding

This is where another example might help. While we can behold a hero as they become who they were meant to be, it doesn’t quite capture the idea of splendor or savoring.

For that, we need to look at a bride on her wedding day. When the doors open and the music plays, all eyes turn to the bride, who is radiant and full of joy. Even the attendees behold her beauty and savor her joyful expectations of being joined to her husband, and the husband looks down the aisle at his future bride and beholds his other half. He beholds her beauty, the splendor of her in the white dress, and the lifetime of memories they will make together. So much is happening in that moment when the bride is revealed and he is savoring everything about her in that moment. He is beholding the glory of his bride.

We will spend the rest of the time learning what we are beholding.

II – Behold who He is

Beholding God’s glory.

His Glory

The glory of God is the power, might, or splendor that shines through all of the divine attributes.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

A recognition, appreciation, and enthrallment as you see God for who He truly is.

(See also Isa 40:9-31 for a more robust understanding of beholding God).

Once you behold someone fully displaying one particular attribute or another, you can’t unsee it. Moving forward, you won’t be able to un-appreciate them for that specific characteristic.

Usually, the groom beholds the bride, but in this case, it is the bride who is to behold her groom.

Attributes

He is Trinity, but in many cases, we read about and worship God as the One True God.

God is…

In places like this, God tells us who He is, and in the rest of the Old Testament, He shows us who He is.

As we read about these attributes in scripture, we don’t just read for head knowledge. We read to know Him with our hearts and emotions as well. We must also take the time to bask in His glorious splendor. The bride is beholding her husband in the fullness of who He is.

So we worship Yahweh in these attributes, but we can also worship Him in each of His three personhoods:

Father
  • Fatherly
  • Omni’s
  • Leads
  • Wisdom
  • Just Judge
Son
  • Humility
  • Compassion
  • Submission
  • Sacrifice
  • Authority
Spirit
  • Teacher
  • Counselor
  • Comforter
  • Regenerator
  • Gifter

We don’t just read about God in the scriptures to know more about Him intellectually with our minds. When we behold Him in His glorious splendor, as we see His attributes. We also see, understand, and appreciate Him with our heart, soul, and emotions with a sense of awe and wonder… with a growing thirst for more… with a desire to ‘taste and see’ that He is good.

So, we behold God by savoring all His attributes and seeing him for who He truly is. But we can also savor Him by beholding what He has done.

III – Behold what He has done

The Lamb of God who…

Take a look at what John the Baptist says. As he teaches and baptizes his own disciples, Jesus approaches. Then, John turns to his followers and says… follow that guy!

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Behold your……

  • redeemer
  • sacrifice
  • sanctifier
  • King
For you

•       Grace – Unmerited favor. Behold Him in the realization of our sinful state when He redeemed us. You were sinful and an enemy, yet he pulled you out of all that and made you a new person.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

•       Your Transformation – His longsuffering during our lifelong sanctification

•       His divine Power – Knowing it is Him who works in us so we can will and work according to His good pleasure.

Behold His glorious splendor. Behold His great love and grace for you. He is marvelous and has done marvelous things.

And will do marvelous things in the future.

 IV- Behold what He will do

He will empower you

Through the promised Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 ESV

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

He will send you

Look no further than the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Revel in the knowledge that this magnificent God has plans for you… to use you to demonstrate His glory to the world… to build His Kingdom through your participation. Your life is meaningful and valuable because of Him.

He will be with you

That is the promise at the end of the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:20 ESV

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

…And is the critical tie-in to abiding. There is never a time when you are alone. He is always with you!

He will return

The blessed hope for Christians is that Jesus will return to earth, and is one of the last statements He makes in scripture:

Revelation 22:12–13 ESV

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Conclusion

What should this cause? As we behold His glory, we are transformed.

Cause us to adore and worship

Revelation 5:1–14 ESV

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

To behold God means to see, with understanding and awe, the glory of God, which is the power, might, or splendor that shines through all of the divine attributes. It brings Him glory, and it transforms you in the process.

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