05 The Glory Sought

The Glory Sought

It is sometimes pleasant, in times of sorrow and trouble — to look back to more happy and prosperous seasons; and it is natural to long for a restoration of prosperity and joy. As a monarch, who for the good of his people had left his palace and his throne, and experienced all the privations of banishment to a foreign shore and a menial situation, would look back to happier times when in his glory and power, and sigh for the return of such happiness again — just so our beloved Lord looked back to the period when he was in the bosom of the Father, surrounded with glory and splendor, and prayed, "And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self, with the glory which I had with you before the world was!" (John 17:5).

What is clearly implied here? His humiliation. His divine nature was veiled, was covered in a tent or tabernacle, as we read, "The Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us." He was in the form of God, possessing not only the nature — but all the prerogatives, honor, and glory of God; but he humbled himself, assumed the form of a servant, and was surrounded by all the weakness, baseness, and contempt of a servant. His PERSON was complex. He was really divine — he was truly human. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him — and a complete human nature was possessed by him. He was therefore God. He was also man. He was God and man in one person. His WORK was singular and arduous. It could not be performed by the Godhead alone, nor could it be produced by the manhood alone. Both natures must be united, and both natures must act. It could not be wrought in Heaven, nor be produced by him in his glory. He must come to earth. He must dwell here for years. He must become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Majesty and baseness,
omnipotence and weakness,
divinity and humanity —
must be united to produce it. His PRIVATIONS were great and many. Born in a stable; nursed in a carpenter’s cottage in a lowly town like Nazareth; attended only by a few fishermen, and fed by a few kind-hearted women; exposed to the rudeness of man by day, and often to the roughness of the weather by night; homeless, and at times almost friendless — how painful his privations must have been! And the worst came at last; for his day grew darker and more stormy, until at eventide it blew a tremendous hurricane! His OFFICE required his humiliation. To be a suitable mediator, he must not only have both natures — but the experience of both parties. He must stand on the same ground as each.

He must pay the ransom,
he must offer the sacrifice,
he must produce the righteousness;
for only on this ground could God . . .
receive man to his embraces,
raise him to his throne, and
robe him with his glory. His DESIRES were pure and lofty. His desires must partake of the character of the nature that generates them. The nature of Christ being holy — his desires were pure. He being the high and lofty One — his desires were lofty. He desired that his Father should be glorified in the highest degree, and that his people should be raised to the greatest dignity; and to gratify such noble and glorious desires — he was willing to . . .
stoop to the lowest place,
undertake the most arduous work,
and suffer to the uttermost extent.

O you blessed Jesus, how wondrous is your grace — that being rich, for our sakes you should become poor, that we through your poverty may be rich!

What is plainly expressed? That Christ existed before the world. How could he have a glory with the Father before the world was — if he did not exist then? But in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. He is the image, portrait, or correct representation of the invisible God — as well as the first-born of every creature, having the pre-eminence in all things; for by him were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers. All things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things are held together.

He was with his Father before the world was. With him, distinct from him, equal to him — rejoicing always before him. He was divinely glorious. Who can guess or form the least conception of the glory that Jesus had, when he was by the Father as one brought up with him — when he produced all the angelic inhabitants of the upper world, who bowed before him, adored him, and ascribed their being and blessedness unto him. All the glory of Heaven radiated from him! But he was stripped of all — as if a monarch should leave his ivory throne, his princely robes, and his palace of polished marble — clothe himself in rags, sit on the cold damp earth, and reside in an unsightly goat’s hair tent. He made himself of no reputation. He appeared as a servant. He placed himself on a level with the lowest. He had no form nor loveliness, so that when men saw him — there was no beauty that they should desire him. The now prays for the restoration of his glory. he design of his self-abasement was just answered. The end of his humiliation was accomplished. Now he looks back to what he was, to where he had been, to what he enjoyed, and he cries, "Father, glorify me with your own self, with the glory which I had with you before the world was." He could he satisfied with nothing less. He had not forfeited it. He had only left it in the care of his Father for a time. It was left behind him as a kind of pledge, only to be restored on the completion of his work. That work being completed — he can claim it again. But with profound humility he asks for it. "O Father," he says, "now glorify me."

O lovely Savior, every step I take fills me with greater wonder, and inspires my heart with warmer love to you!

What he so earnestly sought. His resurrection from the dead. He must die. He must be buried. His flesh must rest in hope — but not see corruption. His disembodied spirit must enter the invisible world in that state — but must not be left there. This he knew; he therefore longs and prays for the reunion of the soul and body in perfection and glory forever. His ascension to Heaven. The Son of man must ascend up where he was before. He must re-enter Heaven — but in a different manner from that in which he left it. He longs for this: the elevation of his body, spiritualized and immortalized, and made fit to enjoy the glories of the eternal world; the glorification of his entire person, in the honor and happiness which he once had; his admission as a priest into the holiest with his blood, that there he may present it, and plead it on the behalf of all that come unto God by him. His enthroning at God’s right hand. This was promised to him. The Father had engaged to say unto him when his work was done, "Sit on my right hand — until I make your foes your footstool." This crowned him — a grant of all power and authority in Heaven and in earth, and a supply of all necessary agents and instruments, to carry on his work, and to carry out the purpose so near to his heart.

Glorious Father, how it gladdens our hearts to know that you have answered the prayer of your beloved Son, and have set him at your own right hand in the Heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world — but also in that which is to come; and have put all things under his feet, and has given him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all!

Observe, Jesus prizes his honor; and so should we. We should seek . . .
to honor his dear name,
to exalt his glorious person,
to publish his finished work, and
to spread abroad to the utmost of our power his matchless fame. His glorification — is the pledge of ours. Where the Head is — the members shall be. As the Head is — the members will be. We are predestined to be conformed to his image. We are now like him in his humiliation — and we shall soon be like him in his glorification. O delicious thought! I shall be with Jesus, like Jesus, and enjoy Jesus forever!

They who would be glorified in Heaven — must glorify God on earth. Jesus glorified his Father here — and then he pleaded that he might be glorified with him above. So we in every plan and purpose, in every word and deed, in all places and at all times — should seek to glorify God for his amazing grace, and in full expectation of sharing in our Redeemer’s glory. The Lord Jesus having been in Heaven, longs to return there. We, therefore, should long to go too — not that we should be anxious — yet with the apostle we may nourish the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Heaven should be looked upon by us as our fatherland — as we are born from above; and as our home — where our Father dwells, our Elder Brother resides, and all the members of the family are collecting together.

Those who are most humbled now — will shine brightest by-and-by. Who so humbled as Jesus once — who so glorified as Jesus now? From many a cold, damp cellar, from many a cheerless back garret, from many a hovel-like cottage — will be collected the gems that are to deck the diadem of Jesus! Soon, soon the day will come, when from the depths of poverty, or affliction, or humiliation — the righteous will come forth, to shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father forever and ever!

Glorious Redeemer, we rejoice in your dignity. It gladdens our hearts to know that you are now glorified with your Father; that you have the highest place in Heaven, and will be honored by the whole universe.

Holy Spirit, reveal to us more and more of our Savior’s glory, and fill us with high, holy, and honorable thoughts of him.

Heavenly Father, we bless you for raising Jesus from the dead, receiving him up into glory, placing him at your right hand, and making him full of joy with your countenance.

Oh, to be enabled to honor Jesus more, and to give him the highest place in our thoughts, desires, and affections! And may it be our unspeakable happiness to be glorified with him, in the presence of his Father and the holy angels!