BEHOLD!!!

​I have some good news to share with each of you that’ll make you very happy. Before I do that, let’s consider some leading up information…

The title for today’s message is BEHOLD!!!

In the 2022 World Cup, “Cristiano Ronaldo has come in for criticism over the way he handled Portugal’s opening goal against Uruguay. It looked to everyone that the former Manchester United striker had given Portugal the lead…when he wheeled away celebrating having seemingly flicked on a Bruno Fernandes cross. However, the goal was in fact awarded to Fernandes.” Full Article
If you get an opportunity to view that play, then you too will see that Cristiano never touched the ball, yet in fact celebrated as though he scored the goal. And when the announcement was made in the stadium that the goal was awarded to Fernandes, Cristiano put his hands up in disbelief. What does it matter? It should be about Cristiano’s teammate and country scoring a goal, but he chose in that moment to make it about himself.

The desire for attention isn’t something that originated with Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. This is a concept that man has struggled with even in the NT times. For instance…

• Jesus reminds His disciples on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:2-6 (NIV) 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Three Godly Examples for us to Follow when it comes to this idea of BEHOLD…

• John the Baptist
  • Luke 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  • John 1:26-36 (NIV) 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
  • As you will see in John 3:22-36, some of John’s followers were becoming jealous of Jesus’ ministry…once again, John points them to THE MESSIAH. BEHOLD!
    • 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about--look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.” 31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
• The Apostle Peter
  • Acts 10:25-26 (NIV) 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
    • Peter’s mission and goal was to point others to Jesus, not himself.
• The Angel
  • Revelation 19:9-10 (NIV) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
  • BEHOLD…The Greek word for behold is idou (BAGD p. 468). It’s a “demonstrative or presentative particle that draws attention to what follows…prompter of attention, behold, look, see…it sometimes serves to enliven a narrative…as a call to closer consideration and contemplation remember, consider, etc.”
    • At the beginning of today’s message, I told you that I had some good news that’ll make you happy. Has the anticipation been killing you? The good news is that Christmas is only 21 days away. That’s what you’ve been waiting to hear. Doesn’t that make you happy? It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
    • That’s what’s happening in Luke 2:10 (ESV) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
      • The narrative should never be about me or you.
      • There’s so much life in the message the angel delivered. That should be our message to those God’s placed in our circles as well.  

Look…Behold, What?

• Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us [Notice…the author includes himself] a Child is born,
  Unto us a Son is given;
  And the government will be upon His shoulder.
  And His name will be called
  Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Notice who is speaking in the following passage…the angel doesn’t say “us,” he says “you” and “them.” Digging into that difference in wording is an entirely different message to preach on, but I still wanted to point that out.
  • Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV) 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, [DON’T PUT YOUR ATTENTION ON ME!] for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
  • So, what are we to look for, behold what? Christ, the Savior, the Messiah was sent for us, for you.

Are you more prone to react like Cristiano Ronaldo did in the World Cup? “Look at me.”

Or would you say that your life has proven that you’re more prone to react the way that John the Baptist, the Apostle Peter, and the Angel did? “Look, Behold…ALL attention on Him alone!!!”

Everything I do is about Him.

Don’t make this holiday season about you…look for opportunities to point others to Him.
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Be Thou My Vision…Thou and Thou ONLY! So, He can be THE vision of others as well.