Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "behold". There are a few different Greek words translated behold in the New Testament. We'll be looking at one of them, which is found in these verses:

Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. KJV

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. KJV

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. KJV

These are all the Greek word "eido". Strong's Concordance says: to see (literally or figuratively); to know. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds this: to know, to find, to perceive (with the eyes), to perceive by any of the senses, to notice, discern, discover, to pay attention, observe, inspect, examine, to experience. This word goes beyond simply observing and noticing, as in the challenge game of looking at something and then trying to recall what you saw/observed. This is referring to going beyond just seeing to comprehending the importance and implications of what you see! I think that this is also what Joel Houston is saying in the song he wrote for the new Hillsong album, Let There Be Light, called "Behold (Then Sings My Soul)"! Here is that song:

Verse 1
Behold the Father’s heart
The mystery He lavishes on us
As deep cries out to deep
Oh how desperately He wants us
The things of earth stand next to him
Like a candle to the sun
Unfailing Father
What compares to His Great love

Verse 2
Behold His holy Son
The Lion and the Lamb given to us
The Word became a man
That my soul should know its Saviour
Forsaken for the sake of all mankind
Salvation is in His blood
Jesus Messiah
The righteous died for love

Pre-Chorus 1
It wasn’t over
For He is the risen One

Chorus 1
Then sings my soul
Then sings my soul
How great Your Love is
How great Your Love is

Verse 2
Behold I have a friend
The Spirit breathing holy fire within
My ever present help
Speaking truth when I can’t find it
Light up this broken heart
And light my way
Until my time on earth is done
Oh Holy Spirit
Breathe in me like kingdom come

Pre-Chorus 2
Oh Holy Spirit
Let Your work in me be done

Outro
Then sings my soul my God
He who was and is to come
Prepare the way
Until the work on earth is done
Watch as the clouds He rides swing low
Lift up the sound
As He makes our praise His throne
Behold the Lord our God will lead us home

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!