Advent 4 - Incarnation Glory
We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. -John 1:14b
Welcome to DAY 4 of GOD WITH US!
The Incarnation is about the revelation of the GLORY of God. The glory that was contained behind the curtain in the Tabernacle is now showcased in the PERSON of Jesus Christ through his birth and life. It was Moses who said to God, “Show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18), but Moses was warned that if he looked too closely, he would die. But fast forward to the new covenant. When we truly see the Incarnation with eyes of faith then “we all, with unveiled face,” will be “beholding the glory of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). To behold His glory is to be TRANSFORMED by His glory. This too, is the OPPORTUNITY of Advent!
This Christmas, we must seek to GAZE upon the bright GLORY of the Lord Jesus Christ. His glory is the ANSWER to all circumstances–every trial, every problem, every doubt, fear, and fatigue. His glory is our ONLY HOPE!
To the lost soul being destroyed by sin, to the discouraged man fighting to find purpose and joy, to the frustrated young person who continues to dabble in the futility and darkness of the world, the Incarnation is the light and glory of Jesus Christ that seeks to SHINE in our hearts today!
The word “glory” in Hebrew means WEIGHT. When Jesus came to earth, He brought the weight of God’s glory with Him.
When Simeon was holding the infant Jesus, he knew he was holding the weight of glory.
When Peter is in the boat in Luke 5, he falls down before Jesus because he realizes he is standing before the weight of glory.
When the Roman soldier who watched Jesus die and then the sky darkens and the earth quakes, he realizes that he just watched the weight of glory die.
Thomas, who had once doubted, but then saw the wounds of Christ in person, cries out, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28) because he had just beheld the true GLORY of the only Son from the Father (John 1:14).
The season of Advent provides us the opportunity to reflect upon His glory with fresh eyes!
You’ve likely been to several Christmas Eve services over the years–for me, the most memorable was the midnight candlelight service at West Coast Christian Fellowship when we lived in Vancouver. I remember the lights were off, but the room was aglow with everybody’s candles–and we sang to the Lord together:
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Help us Holy Spirit to behold and see these RADIANT BEAMS of GLORY shining from Jesus’ holy face–not only 2000 years ago, but today and forevermore!