Thursday - October 17, 2024
Reappearing Themes - The Glory of Jesus
John 17:1-5; John 2:4; John 7:30; John 8:20; John 12:23-27; John 13:1; John 16:32; John 17:1.
“We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14b)
Changed from Glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord
The work of God would go deeper than it now does, and the soul would be changed into the likeness of Christ. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed in the same image from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord." "For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. . . . The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? . . . Now the Lord is that Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." "Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ." {ST, July 10, 1893 par. 6} The Signs of the Times
Obedience to His Word, Changes Into His Likeness - Enlightened by His Spirit
As we near the close of earth's history, Satan redoubles his efforts to cast his hellish shadow over us, in order that he may cause us to turn our eyes away from Christ. If he can prevent us from beholding Jesus, we shall be overcome; but we must not permit him to do this; for "we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." What is the glory of the Lord? Moses prayed, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory." And the Lord said, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed. The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty." The glory of God is his character, and it is manifested to us in Christ. Therefore it is by beholding Christ, by contemplating his character, by learning his lessons, by obeying his words, that we become changed into his likeness. As we are enlightened by his Spirit, we see no virtue or merit in ourselves. We realize there is naught in us but deformity. But the glory of the Redeemer, manifested in his atoning sacrifice, in his justifying righteousness, in his fullness of grace, whereby we not only obtain pardon but receive sanctification, fills the whole soul with love and adoration, and in contemplating the goodness, mercy, and love of God, we become transformed in character. Jesus said, "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one." On him who receives Christ, the glory of the Lord has risen, the Sun of Righteousness has shined, and, rising from his low and worldly state, the believer reflects the light of Christ's glory. As he continually looks to Jesus and contemplates his beauty, he is more and more transformed into the child of light. {SSW, July 1, 1894 par. 5} Sabbath-School Worker
A Need to Die to Obtain the Kingdoms of this World from Satan
Satan exulted when Jesus left heaven, and left his power and glory there. He thought that the Son of God was placed in his power. The temptation took so easily with the holy pair in Eden, that he hoped he could with his satanic cunning and power overthrow even the Son of God, and thereby save his life and kingdom. If he could tempt Jesus to depart from the will of his Father, then his object would be gained. Jesus bid Satan get behind him. He was to bow only to his Father. The time was to come when Jesus should redeem the possessions of Satan by his own life, and, after a season, all in heaven and earth should submit to him. Satan claimed the kingdoms of earth as his, and he insinuated to Jesus that all his sufferings might be saved. He need not die to obtain the kingdoms of this world. But he might have the entire possessions of earth, and the glory of reigning over them, if he would worship him. Jesus was steadfast. He chose his life of suffering, his dreadful death, and, in the way appointed by his Father, to become a lawful heir to the kingdoms of earth, and have them given into his hands as an everlasting possession. Satan also will be given into his hands to be destroyed by death, never more to annoy Jesus, or the saints in glory. {1SG 34.1} Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1, 1858
Consider the Following
❖ What is the glory of Jesus?
— First, the glory (honor) that He enjoyed with the Father before becoming incarnate, and which He recovered after His ascension (John 17:5).
— Secondly, the glory of becoming a human being. A glory that was not appreciated at the time by men, but was seen with admiration by Heaven (John 1:14).
— Third, the glory of the cross. On the cross, Jesus achieved his ultimate glory, for he demonstrated beyond a doubt the love of God for all his creatures (John 12:23-24).
❖ On the cross, Jesus was glorified by the Father, and the Father was glorified by Jesus (John 17:1). All of Divinity participated in the supreme sacrifice made for man (John 3:16)
