February 27

We beheld his glory. - John 1:14.

HOW was this perception of the Redeemer’s glory realized? First, They saw his glory corporeally, with their bodily senses; they heard him in conversation and preaching. They saw his glory at his baptism, in his transfiguration, in. the miracles he wrought, in the garden of Gethsemane, at his crucifixion. How much of his glory did they see after his resurrection, and when he ascended to his Father, and the heavens received him out of their sight, and on the day of Pentecost? Before this “the Holy Ghost was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” “He hath showed forth this,” says the Apostle, “which ye now see and hear.” All these new tongues are his, and in the conversion of the three thousand they saw the glory of his power displayed in giving efficacy to the word of his grace.

They now saw his kingdom was not of this world, that his death, was a propitiation for sin, and that he was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. They not only saw the Saviour’s glory corporeally, but Spiritually too. Others saw the miracles, but believed not on him. But it pleased God, said the Apostle, to “reveal his Son in me.” And it is the same now; while he is revealed to others, he is revealed in his people. And according to the Saviour’s own word, “He that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, hath everlasting life.”

Are we able to make this acknowledgment? Can we say we have “beheld his glory?” for this is possible now. He is now to be seen by the eye of faith, and by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Yes, he is to be seen now in the gospel, in his house, in his ordinances, in his people, and in his works. If we have beheld his glory, then we have been abased in our own eyes; then the world has ceased to overcome us; then we can say with Paul, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of Christ Jesus my Lord;” and we shall exclaim with Doddridge:-

“Yes, thou art precious to my soul,

My transport and my trust;

Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,

And gold is sordid dust.”

Secondly, If we have seen his glory, we shall he concerned that others may behold him also; his love will constrain us to live not unto ourselves but unto him who loved us and gave himself for us. Then we shall resemble him. He will not only be our teacher but also our example. This is the essence of all religion, and this is what he himself enjoined. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”