The Word Divides

The Word Divides

Part XIV

“to reveal his glory.” (John 2:11)

The phrase, “his glory.” What does that mean? I do think this is very difficult to grasp. Man cannot understand the thoughts of God and our feeble attempts always end up bringing God down to our level of thinking. The gospel writer, John reminds us in Chapter 1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1, 2) and “No one has ever seen God.” (John 1:18) In short one of the many reasons the “Word became flesh” (John 1:14) is to reveal God, make him known. Nevertheless, by taking on flesh “the Word” (Jesus) voluntarily limits our vision of his glory. However, this limitation is so that we might see “his glory.” God has no body parts, and is not made of anything. Hence, unless he reveals himself we cannot see or know him. The incarnation is the “Word who was at the Father’s side” (John 1:18) making God known.


Another problem that requires the incarnation is mankind’s rebellion. If the God of the Bible is God, then he will be faithful to his word. In the beginning God said, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Then God threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:23) All who are born after the fall as well are cast out of the Garden of Eden and we certainly die in this life, it is “appointed once for man to die” (Hebrews 9:27) The worst aspect is not physical death, but eternal death. Eternal death finds fulfillment when a person is cast into hell, where they want to die but will never die and in a hopeless state under the wrath of God. I’m sure many will say that is not fair. No problem all you need to do is obey what God says and you will not go to hell. (Matthew 10:28; Mark 9:48) God’s standard to be in his presences is Himself! That means you need to be perfect, so if you are then you need not fear God. “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” (Romans 3:21) In other words what man was unable to do, God is doing through the “Word” (Jesus). “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice…so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25, 26). Jesus comes to earn our salvation fulfilling all the requirements of the law (Matthew 5:17) and to pay the penalty the law demanded for sin, death. (Romans 6:23) Jesus becomes our substitute, voluntarily laying down his life for us. (John 10:11; 15:13) Jesus resurrection is the “amen” that his work was accepted by His Father (John 17; 1 Corinthians 15). “The Word” is back at his Father side, seated in Heaven. (Acts 1:9-12; Hebrews 4; 10; Revelation 4) ruling. God displays “in Christ” his love, grace, mercy, righteousness and goodness.


The “Word” comes demonstrating his rule over all things. Jesus arrives “at just the right time” (Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4) and he will return on his schedule (Revelation 22:12) However, until then the “Word” is “trampling the enemy under his feet.” (Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:26) Jesus resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit is our surety and guarantee. (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 1 Peter 1:3) Jesus supernatural acts reveal God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and at the same time his omnipresence (‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you). (John 1:48) The skeptics say that is bunch of baloney and if he is reigning he is doing a terrible job and should be fired. I’ve learned over the years it is not my job to make people believe. Jesus came and died and has risen from the dead. Jesus willingly came to die so that I might live with him forever. The Quran affirms that Jesus was born of a virgin, sinless and ascended into Heaven (Surah 3:45-47; Surah 19:19; Surah 4:158) as does the Holy Scriptures. How about you? Will you surrender to his rule now or when you die, “every knee shall bow and confess he is Lord” (Philippians 2:10) then only to hear the words “depart from me I never knew you”! (Matthew 7:21-23) Is the “Word” ruling the throne of your heart?

“his glory”

“divine honor”, “divine splendor”, “divine power”, “visible divine radiance”, “divine mode of being” 1

“The Glory of God” is the combination of all God’s attributes. “The Glory of God” is the manifestation of all that God is and reveals Himself to be. “The Glory of God” consists of the Love of God, the Mercy of God, the Goodness of God, the Wrath of God, the Omnipotence of God, the Immutability of God, the Omnipresence of God, the Omniscience of God—all that God is as the Father, and as the Son, and as the Holy Spirit.” “The Glory of God” is the very essence of the Being of God. “The Glory of God” is His Very Presence and Person that cannot be separated. “The Glory of God” is the manifest revelation of God in all who God is.”2

1 Gerhard and Gerhard, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol II 247, 248.

2 Evangelism and “The Glory of God”, Lecture by Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, delivered at Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, Pennsylvania, March 25, 2015 http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/... accessed 12/20/2015