What is the meaning of "Behold the Son" in John 6:40?

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"Behold" is a wonderful English word but unfortunately rarely used in common speech today. It means to "see" in the sense of understand. We might say today that someone who "beholds" in the Greek sense is someone who "gets it".

So, to behold the Son would mean to appreciate who He is, to see Jesus with spiritual eyes. There are many who know an abundance of facts about him as a historical figure, but certainly do not "behold" Him. They don't understand, at least at the moment.

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This is from the SDA perspective. We believe in righteousness by faith. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is NOT reached by works, as our works are as filthy rags:

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:6

When we are in sin (iniquity), Jesus calls us to repetance and cleansing. Only Jesus can do that.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7-9

This verse in Ephesians makes it abundantly clear that God saves us through the blood of Jesus Christ and it is by His grace ONLY, not of works:

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2: 4-10

We cannot be saved through our own works, but we walk as Jesus walked, because He saved us. We do the works of Christ not TO BE SAVED, but because He has saved us.

Jesus when talking TO HIS DISCIPLES, those that were already following Him, to them He said:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:15

Works are the evidence that Jesus is working through you. Works cannot save you, only Jesus can save you, but you can definitely be lost by your works, or lack thereof.

I don't believe John 6:40 should be taken as an exhaustive list of things that must be done to be saved. This would be taking it out of context. Yes, we must behold, the Son and walked as He walked. There are many directives like this in the Bible, behold the Son, believe in the Son, abide in Him, take up your cross and follow Him, etc. Take all these verse to see a clearer picture of God's will for your life.

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