“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“
I John 3:1-3 NKJV
I believe that those who truly know the Lord, understand that Jesus showed us Who God is, in a way we could understand.
Indeed, when Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, He made it clear that they had already seen the Father through Him.
“Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?“
John 14:8-9 ESV
Yes, the glory of the Creator was made accessible for us to behold in the face of Jesus.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.“
II Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
Interestingly, it seems that many who understand that Jesus showed us the Father, do not understand something else He showed us: Remarkably, we can also see OUR future glory through Jesus!
“For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.“
Hebrews 2:5-10 NKJV
It’s easy to miss the point that when sin entered into man, more was lost than eternal life with God. The glory God had given us in our creation was extinguished, making it impossible for us to imagine the dominion the Lord had wanted to invest in us. And, as the writer of Hebrews explains in the above scripture, we still don’t see evidence of our dominion, as we still live in a fallen world and are not yet in our glorified bodies. But we do see Jesus. Indeed, ALL authority was given to Him.
“And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.“
Matthew 28:18 ESV
But consider this: God already had all power and authority. However, man had lost his power and authority. Therefore, the Lord took on flesh and did what He did, although fully God, as one also fully man. In so doing, Jesus made it possible for us to share in His glory, the glory He obtained as a man.
Also bear in mind, Jesus prayed that we would be able to be where He is and to share in His glory.
“”I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.“
John 17:20-24 NKJV
In our opening scripture we see John marveling at God‘s great love that was shown in the lengths to which He went to restore our sonship. He also says that when Jesus returns, and we finally see Him as He is, we will be made like Him.
Yes! When we fully see Him, we will know Him as well as He now knows us.
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.“
1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
Child of God, as you keep your eyes on Jesus, not only are you set free from fear, not only are you given the strength to endure, not only are you seeing the things of Heaven, you are seeing your future! Yes, your future glory is seen in the face of Jesus!
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.“
Revelation 22:1-5 ESV
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
コメント