We Have Seen His Glory (John 1:14)
INTRODUCTION:
A. THE GLORY OF JESUS’ INCARNATION:
1. The Unique Difference: Avatar and Incarnation
Gods and goddesses adopted various forms in Indian religions and mythologies and they maintained those forms for a temporary period and were able to change back and form into different forms, as needed. That is the idea of an avatar. Incarnation is amazingly different and unique – only the Lord Jesus Christ has ever become incarnated. He was “spirit” and invisible before His incarnation. At His birth He took on human form. In that human form He lived and died. When He rose again He took on the same human shape but had a transformed body – the disciples recognised Jesus when He appeared to them after He rose again. He ascended into heaven with that transformed resurrection body and, in heaven, He still has a body. He will return in bodily form at His second coming. Jesus’ incarnation in bodily form is permanent.
2. Jesus felt His humanness:
Jn. 4:6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Jn. 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
Jn. 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.”
Jn. 13:21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Jn. 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
3. The Virgin Birth:
Matt. 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came togethershe was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
4. The Biblical Emphasis:
Phil. 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
1 Tim. 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Heb. 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
Heb. 10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
B. THE GLORY OF JESUS’ DEITY: glory as of the only Son from the Father
1. God is Glorious:
Col. 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Col. 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col. 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Just imagine and think of the glory of His divine nature which is essential to Him. It is underived, is equal to the Father’s glory, is transcendent to all creatures, and is ineffable, and incomprehensible.
He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. While on earth, John testified that he and the other disciples had seen His glory. Eg: Mk. 4:41; Jn. 18:5-6
Is. 6:3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Ezek. 1:28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Jn. 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
2. Christ’s Glory Revealed:
Matt. 17:1-5 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Lk. 9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
2 Pet. 1:16-18 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
3. The Biblical Emphasis:
Jn. 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
1 Jn. 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
C. THE GLORY OF JESUS’ CHARACTER: full of grace and truth
- His Grace The word “grace” means “favour.” Jesus was kind, merciful, gracious, doing good to all. It can be said to be characteristic of Jesus – He was full of grace. He “abounded” in favors to mankind.
- His Truth He was also “full of truth.” He declared the truth. In Him was no falsehood. He was not like the false teacher – He was Truth itself. See Jn. 14:6.
CONCLUSION:
Have you seen His glory? Do you live reflecting His glory?
