A Moment of Astounding Glory

Among the more commonly known passages that describe the glory of God would be those near the end of the Word of God in the book of Revelation, especially in the final 2 chapters as it describes the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem.

One of the earliest descriptions of heaven in the Bible is in the second of 66 books: “Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity” (Exodus 24:9-10).

In John 13 Jesus is telling his disciples about his imminent departure when “the Son of Man will be glorified as God is glorified in Him” (13:31). He specifically describes what's to come as “The moment of this astounding glory” (13:32).

If you don't know the story, you might expect some streets of gold, the room turned into shining gemstones, or light and music filling the air. That's not what happens next.

Instead, the path for Jesus to his highest point is through his lowest. “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:13-14).

That low marring moment is astounding in its glory, not for what we see, but for what we don't see. This is the moment of the great transfer when “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Apostle Paul explained further in writing to the church in Philippi: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).

There is coming another moment of astounding glory when we will see Him highly exalted.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

Are you ready to meet the King?