Behold the Beauties of His Face

Around 1782, Samuel Stennett wrote a hymn in which he wrote “Behold, the beauties of His face”.  In these unprecedented times we are expected to cover our faces with masks, hide our facial features with the aim of protecting ourselves and others from the deadly Covid 19 virus.

The face Samuel Stennett wrote about was the face of the Lord Jesus Christ and in these few moments lets “consider him” (Hebrews 12 v 3) and the beauties of His face.

In Matthew chapter 17 we read of how the Lord Jesus went up a mountain to prayer and in verse 2 we read of His face SHINING. Throughout the Lord’s perfect and sinless life his glory shined forth and he was a beacon of light when he walked among men.  In another gospel he declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 9 v 5)

Many “miracles and wonders and signs” (Acts 2 v 22) were conducted by the Lord Jesus Christ but the purpose he came into the world” was to “to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1 v 15) and in Romans chapter 3 we are reminded that “For all have sinned” (Romans 3 v 23).

To complete the work of salvation he needed to go to the great city and Luke goes on to say that he “STEDFASTLY SET His face to go to Jerusalem”.  There he was rejected of men and when Pilate arrayed him in a gorgeous purple robe and brought him before the people of the day, they shouted with one accord “Away with him, crucify Him.” (John 19 v 15)

The soldiers scourged and whipped him, and others placed a reed in his hand and mocked him and he was so maltreated that the Bible states “his visage (face) was so marred more than any man” (Isaiah 52 v 14).

The gospel writer reminds us they “smote him with the palms of their hands” and they SPAT in His face and eventually he was taken outside the great city of Jerusalem and crucified upon a cross.

As we look into the face of the one who hung on the cross we wonder why? Romans 5 v 8 would answer this question when it states “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

The Lord Jesus died and was buried but on the third day “God raised him from the dead” (Acts 13 v 30) and His face was SEEN by many and a few days later he was received back up into heaven.

The word “behold” simply means to fix the attention, and as we have fixed our attention on the beauties of His face I wonder whether you are right with God?,  Are you saved from your sin?, one day will you look into the face of the Lord Jesus as your Saviour or Judge?

“What must I do to be saved?, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16 v 30 and 31).

Paul Cartwright#AB987A