Intimately Speaking

This morning as I was searching for a line to add to one of Twitters’ hashtag games, which by the way is a great way of developing creativity as a writer, I came across this scripture, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Mat 19:26 KJV. I added a pic, abbreviated the verse then tweeted,

“#ISurviveBecause with God, all things are possible.”

Image courtesy of You Version

The background colors of the image and the paraphrase of the verse created by YouVerse Bible app, so resonated with me that I posted it on another site; publicly on G+ as well as in a couple of my communities. The point I was trying to make in the tweet had its emphasis on the phrase ‘WITH God all things are possible’. I totally ignored the beginning of that verse. The most important part of that verse. The part of the verse that mattered the most. “But Jesus beheld them.” I didn’t see it. I was so busy looking for a punch line that I didn’t even see it. A very powerful statement about an all powerful man. He too was busy, yet he took the time to see them. To, as KJV dictionary defines it:

1. To fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care.

Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1.

2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see.

When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21.

BEHO’LD, v.i. To look; to direct the eyes to an object.

And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lamb,as it had been slain. Rev.5.

1. To fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind.

Did he see them? I mean really see them? It shows that he didn’t merely respond without thought or empathy. He saw them before he spoke to them. He didn’t recite some rabbinic cliche or saying. No. He actually saw them then spoke with compassion towards their fears as men. He spoke to their insecurities. To their finite, limited image of their own strengths and abilities. He saw them. Truly saw them.

Who doesn’t want to be seen? That’s what intimacy is all about. If we don’t have intimacy we have nothing. No connection. No bond. Nothing. I might as well be a rock or a stone; a heartless piece of flesh. How can you relate to me if you don’t see me? I’m so glad he sees me. And that he responds to me, not with trite generic one-liners, but with words that speak to my specific concerns. Struggles that only I am intimately familiar with. Words that comfort my fears and calm my frustrations. He knows what to say to me, and how to convey it. He never misses his mark. I love that about him. His words. His heart. If I don’t see you, and no one else sees you, remember, “But Jesus beheld them…”.

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