The Glory of God in Jesus Christ

Jesus is the physical expression of Elohim. He is Elohim in the flesh. He is God and was with God in the beginning, before all time. And as we read through the Scriptures, we see different facets of Christ.

He said that the Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39). He opened the Scriptures to His disciples after His resurrection, revealing to them how the law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms spoke of his suffering, death, resurrection, and the spread of the Gospel after His ascension (Luke 24: 25:47).

What a privilege, what a joy for us to open the Scriptures, in the light of the Holy Spirit, and learn something new about our Lord and Savior every day.

Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, through whom God made the universe, is the radiance of God’s glory.

The dictionary defines radiance as “Light or heat as emitted or reflected by something.” So, when we read about the radiance of God’s glory, it is something visible. It may be invisible to our natural eyes, but definitely not to our spiritual eyes.

Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 6:1). John 12:41 helps us to understand that Isaiah was beholding Jesus, pre-incarnate. The seraphim testified that the earth is full of His glory. It lights up the earth.

We know this one: Jesus is the light of the world – talking about the illumination that comes to our hearts in the knowledge of Christ. The entrance of His Word brings light and understanding to the simple. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Psalm 119:105).

But this type of light shines within us, to show us the way we ought to take. It guides us in the paths of righteousness. In Christ, we do not feel our way in the dark. He orders our steps.

However, in the context of this discussion, we are talking about visible light, real light that Christ radiates. The Psalmist said, He wraps Himself in light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2).

We get a close look at the transfiguration. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17:2). John had the same experience in Revelation 1. In both instances, the disciples fell.

Read Also: Jesus Is The Image Of The Invisible God

I love this one, so I will just let it speak to you:

In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen (1 Timothy 6:13-16).

The Apostle Paul saw this unapproachable light.  He was caught up in the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:10).

A few chapters back, Paul teaches us that the glory of God is in the face of Christ. Here is the sixth verse in the Amplified Bible:

For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (2 Corinthians 4: 4-7).

The glory of God is revealed to us as we behold Christ, who, as the scriptures teach in various instances, is the image of God (See 2 Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15).

Think about what John saw in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City:

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:23).

The fascinating part of this discussion is that He who dwells in an unapproachable light is in us. How much glory in dwelling in us who have believed and received Christ? What manner of power is living in us!

The fullness of the Godhead is in Christ (Colossians 2:9), and Christ is in us! What a privilege, what an honor this is that mere human beings would carry the fullness of God, with all the glory, surpassing great power, treasures of wisdom and knowledge!

And there is more! As we behold the glorious face of Christ, we are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Moses spent time with God and came back with a radiant face. His radiance slowly faded away. Our radiance, our reflection of God’s glory in us, is ever-increasing. The Spirit of God is working in us, transforming us into the glorious image of Christ.

The world can clearly see Christ in us, for our faces are unveiled.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3).

We share in His suffering. When His glory is revealed, we will rejoice with great joy. We shall be like Him!

Shalom.