"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Just what is the glory of God?" (2 Corinthians 4:5-6, ESV).
Just what is the glory of God?
One of the things I learned in John 17 is the significant character of God the Father as Jesus Christ described Him.
No one on earth or in heaven knew the Father so well like Jesus. And while we would address God as Loving, Almighty, Merciful, etc.
Jesus called Him as "Holy..." in John 17:11. In verse 24 He used the word, "righteous" but the Greek word from which it was translated could also be rendered, "holy."
Now, what is the connection between the Holiness and the Glory of God?
We read in Isaiah 6:2-3, "Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'" (ESV.)
Dr. John Piper said that the Glory of God is the manifestation of His Holiness. He also added, "The holiness of God is His concealed glory. The glory of God is His revealed holiness."
While in Isaiah 6:3, we read the last part: "... the whole earth is full of his glory," in Psalm 19:1, we read: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
One night, my wife and I were in our rooftop and we were surprised by a "wonderful performance" in the sky! Several "shooting stars" (or meteor showers) zipped silently, but swiftly and successively above us. The scene was stunning! My wife who was more expressive blurted out, "Wooww!"
In His prayer in John 17, Jesus said partly: "And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you..." (verse 5.) To be with the "Father of Glory" (Ephesians 1:17) is supremely wonderful! And like Jesus, we ought to long for to be in His glorious Glorious Presence, for in His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
That's also the desire of Jesus for the elect, as He prayed: "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me..." (John 17:24.)
It's beyond our human comprehension to fully appreciate the glory of God. We read in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Paul also wrote, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
In the Old Testament, we read that Moses wanted to see God's glory. He told God in Exodus 33:18, "Please show me your glory."
And notice carefully the reply of God: "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (verse 19).
God's glory includes all His goodness and His Sovereign choice to be gracious to whom He will be gracious and to show mercy on whom He will show mercy. It displays His irresistible beauty; exhibits His excellence; and proclaims His perfections.
In Exodus 24:17, "...the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain." In Revelation 21:23, the Holy City "...has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb."
But, in our time, we could behold the glory of God in a greater degree, as revealed to us in Hebrews 1:1-4:
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
Jesus Christ is “the radiance of the glory of God.”
We also read in John 1:14, "And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
And in 2 Corinthians 4:6, we read: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
On our own, however, we could not see or grasp the glory of God in Christ by our natural mind. We could have a glimpse of it, only when God, by His grace, as if, would say to us: "Let there be light!" -- giving us His Spirit, causing us to be born in the Spirit or be born again, enabling us to understand spiritual things, removing the veil before our spiritual eyes -- so, we receive the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Also, we are able to grasp that Jesus is not a just a human Savior and Lord, but we could infer in John 17 that He is God, as the Son of God in verse 1; He is the Authority and Lavish Giver in verse 2; He is the Revelator in verses 6 and 26 -- revealing not only the future, but making know to us the Father; He is the Supreme Sender or Commander in verse 18, the Intercessor in verse 9, the Keeper or Guardian in verse 12, the Joyful God in verse 13, the Sanctifier in verse 19 and the Greatest Lover (verses 23 & 26).
If we would have that kind of glorious picture of Jesus, our tendency is not only to believe in Him, but also to love and rejoice in Him!
As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:8, "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..."
When we are exposed to the glory of God, we are never the same. We changed. We became different.
After Moses talked with God and saw His physical glory, the skin of the face of Moses shone (Ex. 34:29) and he had to cover his face (verse 33), because the people were afraid to come near him.
Today, the believers are told in Matthew 5:14-16:
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Unlike Moses, the believers ought to let their "light shine before others" -- in order that others may see not the physical light glowing from them, but the "light" of good works. And they would give glory to the Heavenly Father.
Peter also wrote to the believers:
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
If we have the privilege to witness the glory of God, we ought also to proclaim the excellencies "of him who called (us) ...out of darkness."
As Paul wrote, "For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord..." (2 Corinthians 4:5.)
Everyone could perceive the glory of God in His creation. And as one would realize that the beauty and order in the heavens and in the earth is the creation of the Powerful Being, he could not avoid the thought that someday he would be accountable for every ugly and disorderly thing he made in his life.
But, as God granted us the spiritual eyes to see His Excellence in Christ, we could gain a bigger picture of His Glory and realize that He is also loving and worthy of our trust! He is supremely awesome! Not only we could say “Wow!,” but “Hallelujah!!” – deeply loving Him and rejoicing exceedingly!
PRAYER: Our Glorious Father, whose Beauty surpasses what we could behold and imagine, we thank You so much for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who displayed Your Worth in an overwhelming way. Through Your Spirit, may You also help us to reflect your Glory to others in our words and actions. May Your Light also be perceived by others through us. In the Name of Your Son, our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. Amen!
