If there is one thing which is veiled to the average Christian it is the glory of Christ. The church may preach many things, but if it neglects the essential glory of God’s Son, then it falls short of the basic and most necessary teaching of the Faith. We seem to know many side issues of Christian doctrine but very little about the central theme. John’s Gospel tells us repeatedly in the 17th chapter that Christ has a glory that was His before worlds began, that He never lost that glory, that He has given part of it to His followers. Flesh loves to glory in itself, but we, as Christians, are called to bear the glory of Christ. “Changed from glory to glory”.
Repossessing
Before the agony and triumph of Calvary, Christ had confidence and assurance of repossessing that glory which He had before the worlds began. For in John 16 v 28 He says “I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go the Father”. As the successful mediator, the Son of Man was made flesh and brought redemption, fulfilling His Father’s will. He gladly wished to return and take the regal and rightful seat at God’s right hand, to administer with justice the kingdom of grace; shedding His glory upon the bond-slaves of mercy. This is because He has first received and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
See what it says in Psalm 68 v 18 “You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive; you have received gifts for men…” In receiving such, He is also willing and more abundantly able to shower freely upon man those precious pledges. Ephesians 4 v 8 “and gave gifts unto men”, gifts full of His immortal glory. Everything that Christ bestows upon the heirs of grace is tinged with divine glory. You will remember the exploits of King David; the chase to Ziklag, the victory; the words that followed; “And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to the friends, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord”. 1 Samuel 30 v 28.
Christ further says in the Gospels “And you are my friends”. Thus we are recipients of the spoils of Golgotha. Our Lord has put the enemy to flight; he that made captives is now overthrown: we are set free, and have additional blessing for we are partakers of the glory, the spoils he has obtained. Ephesians 2 v 18 says, “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father”. This is part of the heritage settled for us in Him, one of those gifts given to make all one. Here is glory multiplied beyond the mind of man: access to God. “For of His fullness have we all received”. John 1 v 16.
Reflecting
Peter in his first epistle, 1 v 11 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow”. Glory for Him, for He could return to the Father: and glory for us, for we were to become his children by adoption, and so inheritors of the divine fortune. Because He has glory, He wishes it to be seen. “When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” 2 Thessalonians 1 v 10. Our text implies, not only seen, but shared!
See next week’s blog post for part two.
