Behold the Man

   "The abiding characteristic of a spiritual man is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God's own heart."

   For me, there is no other song as stirring and beautiful as Stuart Townend's hymn, How Deep the Father's Love For Us. I get a catch in my throat even as the opening melody begins, and often I am unable to sing the words because of the emotion in my heart. Verses three and four state:

      "Behold the man upon the cross
       My sin upon his shoulders
       Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
       Call out among the scoffers

       It was my sin that held him there
       Until it was accomplished
       His dying breath has brought me life
       His death and resurrection"

   The third verse begins with "Behold", look at, concentrate on, see the man on that cross, Jesus Christ. He is the one I need to keep my eyes on as I live life each and every day. He is the main character in the drama, the man that divided history. A great figure to be sure.

   But it is also very personal. "It was my sin that held Him there". He died for me, little ole insignificant me. I am humbled, I am thankful, I am awed, and I am moved by that one act, but I am also ashamed that I often do not live in the light of it. My eyes need to be fixed on Him and not on so many other things in the world.

   "Behold the Man upon the cross"

   God help me to do just that.