The Chance to Behold

The Chance to Behold
-A Short Commentary on "Behold the Man-By Elder. Dieter F Uchtdorf"
By: Jacob Sok


I hope to keep my remarks brief this week and I would invite everyone to review the apostolic testimony of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in, "Behold the Man".

Recently while walking through the Church History Museum, I was walking past a painting that stoped me in my tracks. It seemed to depict for me, a scene from the final days of our Savior, where his followers gazed longingly upon their still and silent Lord. My heart was absolutely touched by an unmistakable gratitude, a simple but poignant feeling of awe and love, for the King of Kings.

This feeling was just a Costco size sample of what, a modern day Apostle (Elder Uchtdorf), just invited us to do; when he used Pontius Pilate's famous line preluding Christ's crucifixion "Behold the man." Of the many invitations that have come by prophetic provision of late, this invitation to "Behold the man" has become a new mantra for my life.

Of course the story will be familiar to us. Christ is brought from the Sanhedrin to the presence of the Roman elected procurator of Jerusalem Pilate. Upon an inquisitive exchange Pilate rather perplexed as to what would be the crimes of Christ, that would have the local citizens demanding His death. Finding no fault with Christ, and yet still succumbing in cowardice to the pressures of the people he invokes the unjustly choice condemnation of Christ. To which he says "Behold I bring him forth unto you...that ye may know that I find no fault in him...Behold the man" (see John 19:4-5).

I do not know if Pilate ever understood the significance of this utterance. I will leave the fate of Pilate to the good Lord of Heaven above, even the righteous judge, our job is never to condone or condemn; but look to Christ. And, it is that purpose of mortality that grants such power to the phrase, "Behold the Man."


The dictionary suggests that to Behold; means to see, observe, witness, regard, and contemplate among other things. The duality of this word even invites further reflections, seeing it really is comprised of two words "BE -- HOLD". Meaning to emulate and treasure, grasp, carry or support. When it comes to the Savior of the world, oh how we can only long for the chance to do as such. To emulate and follow, grasp and carry His teachings--grace--and spirit.

Elder Uchtdorf said it beautifully, "the most important day in the history of mankind was the day when Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, won victory over death and sin for all of God's children. And the most important day in your life and mine is the day when we learn to 'behold the man'."

I sit here in almost frustration, at my in-ability to express even a fraction of the power that can and will come into our lives, as we learn to behold the man. Christ is the answer, the power, the healing, the light, the truth, the way, the One who knows you and your struggles, and loves you perfectly enough to have overcome the most infinitely unthinkable sufferings to do so.

"Because Jesus owed no debt to justice, He could pay our debt and meet the demands of justice for every soul. And that includes you and me.", Elder Uchtdorf continued.

I now paraphrase the plea of this dear servant of God, when he in essence, encouraged us all to; when we feel lost or forgotten, abandoned or stuck, overwhelmed or discouraged; behold the Man. The fountain of hope is in the beholding, for all of our injustices, guilt, inadequacies , and imperfections, are gone as we accept this Great Atoning Sacrifice and learn to continually Behold the Man.

May I just say in closing, that I know that is invitation is to be one of hope and healing. In our efforts to behold, my heart recognizes that it is hard at times when we feel alone or scared, maybe slightly distanced from the joys of our Father in Heaven. But I also need to remind myself at those times when I feel maybe He is not 'there', is that  the most reassuring words of all time forever will be "He is not here: for he is risen" (Matthew 28:6). My joy is in an empty tomb, because of an empty tomb, we can in turn be filled. Just as He was gone, so will those heartaches, fears, and stumbling blocks, as we continue to push on in the faith, beholding not just the Son of God, bud our Redeemer, Savior, and Friend.

Amen.


Sources:
- New Testmeant
- Behold The Man, By: Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf, April 2018 Conference Report.
-Images: Google Imaging, and LDS ART.