And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
The word “behold” is so powerful. It is a pity that some of our more modern translations have done away with “behold” because it is seen as an archaic word. “Behold!” the angel said. The word means ‘to see’. However, in the Bible it is generally used to mean more than merely seeing with the natural eye. What the angel was telling Mary to behold had not yet happened and could not yet be seen in the natural. The angel was drawing Mary’s attention to the spiritual. This is not less real than the natural, but more real, because the natural comes forth from the spiritual by the Word of God. It takes spiritual vision to see the great things God desires to bring forth in the natural. So, ‘beholding’ is allowing the eyes of our heart to be enlightened and focused on Jesus.
Consider the impact of “behold” in the following verses:
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NKJV)
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 (NKJV)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
God tells Ezekiel that his people…
…have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear… Ezekiel 12:2 (AMP)
May that not describe us. In the words of Paul:
And (I pray) that the eyes of your heart (the very centre and core of your being) may be enlightened (flooded with light by the Holy Spirit), so that you will know and cherish the hope (the divine Spirit), so that you will know and cherish the hope (the divine guarantee, the confident expectation) to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people). Ephesians 1:18 (AMP)
It’s time to behold.