Scripture: “They saw his glory and the two men standing with him.” — Luke 9:32
Have you ever done a double-take? That moment when something catches your eye and you have to look again because you can’t quite believe what you saw?
The ancient Greeks, in their linguistic wisdom, understood something we often miss. They had multiple words for the act of seeing, recognizing that not all seeing is created equal. Among these words stands theaomai—a term that transcends mere optical function and invites us into a deeper dimension of perception. It’s the wide-eyed, jaw-dropping “whoa!” kind of seeing. Unlike our rushed modern seeing (swipe, scroll, skim, repeat), theaomai is seeing that stops you in your tracks.
Theaomai appears in those sacred moments throughout scripture when something more than physical sight is occurring. It is the word used when the Magi “saw” the Christ child and fell to their knees in worship. It describes how John the Baptist “beheld” the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove. It captures how the disciples on the mount of Transfiguration “gazed upon” Jesus in His unveiled glory.
In our Netflix-binging, TikTok-scrolling world, we’ve become champion lookers but novice see-ers.
Think about that – Champion lookers. Novice seers.
We’ve mastered the art of visual consumption while losing the gift of holy beholding. No wonder Jesus so often started his teachings with “Behold!”—it wasn’t just a fancy biblical way of saying “Hey, look over here!” It was an invitation to a different kind of seeing altogether.
Contemplation
When was the last time something made you do a spiritual double-take? What was revealed in that moment?
What’s one thing in your life that deserves your theaomai attention today?
If Jesus walked into the room right now, what would you hope to see in his eyes as he looked at you?
Prayer
Divine Eye-Opener, shake us from our spiritual sleepwalking! Awaken our capacity for holy wonder. In this world of endless scrolling and shallow seeing, teach us again the sacred art of beholding. As we journey through this Lenten season, may we not just watch Jesus with our eyes but behold Him with our hearts. Transform our casual glances into encounters of the soul. Amen.