Glory of God - WordPress.com · 2019. 2. 20. · The Glory of God Page 1 of 56 Isaiah 60:2 For...

The Glory of God Page � of �1 56

Isaiah 60:2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

John 1:4-5 In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. Isaiah 5:2

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.


This began as a personal study. I just simply wanted to know God better than I did. I looked in Scripture for the nature, character, glory, and majesty of God as illuminated in Scripture— especially as illuminated by the Person of Jesus in His life and His death.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

The passages of Scripture that follow are what helped. This is not an attempt to teach theology or doctrine from any denominational perspective. This just stemmed from a personal desire to understand better than I did. These passages helped me; perhaps they can help someone else.

The Scripture passages require a certain amount of thought, meditation, and repetitive reading. Sincerely ask the Spirit for help. Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…”

The Spirit will move through the verses with you, moving in your heart to help you understand and grow in the grace and knowledge of who God is and what He is like as revealed in the heart of God— His Son. That grace and knowledge is transforming and peaceful.

2 Peter 1:2-3 (ESV)2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence…

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)8 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

This ‘paper’ (for lack of a better word) is too long for a blog and not worthy of being called a book. I guess it’s a blook… Far more can be said about each of the sections than is presented here, but this basic outline was foundational for me. My comments may or may not help you, but the verses themselves are life-giving through the Spirit of God. It would be far easier to sit down and talk about these things over a good cup of coffee, but that’s a little hard to do over the internet… well, so far anyway…  


Introduction— The Glory of God Isaiah 6:1-4 (NASB)1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” [a] 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

NASB Footnote: [a] Isaiah 6:3 Literally means: fullness of the whole earth is His glory

The ‘Glory of God’?

One thing seemed quite consistent in Scripture, whenever men or women encountered the ‘glory of God’ they were overwhelmed. Usually there were descriptions such as: ‘looked like’ or ‘was like unto’ or something of the sort. Well, how on earth does one define the ‘glory’ or majesty of God when words, even a great sum of them, fall short of the full expression of what the ‘glory of God’ means? I had to conclude that we just don’t have enough words or our words, even grand theological words, are inadequate to define God. After all, how can one surround the Eternal and Infinite One with finite human words. So for the purpose of this paper, I’m using the words ‘the glory of God’ to refer to God’s character and nature or stated more succinctly: God’s heart as revealed in Scripture. What is our Creator like as a Person?

In this paper, I’m just briefly presenting two aspects of God’s ‘glory’. One very briefly addressed aspect is simply this: The display of God’s creative genius, power, and caring attitude for His creation. As the Seraphim called out: “..The whole earth is full of His glory.”

The second aspect is found in the meaning of the name ‘LORD’. For in the meaning of His name one finds the revelation of what is in God’s heart . For the purpose of this paper, the meaning of 1His name is simply taken from the LORD’S own explanation of the meaning of His name when He responded to the request from Moses: Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”’ (Exodus 33) and His response in Exodus 34:5-8 (NASB)5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. 6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship.

These two aspects provide the structure for a brief and admittedly inadequate glimpse into the glory and majesty— the character and nature or heart of God, but both aspects can be clearly seen in the person of Jesus Christ. In Him, God revealed what He is like as a Person. In Him, God was willing to make great personal sacrifice in order to reconcile His ‘glory’— His physical

Heart? Yes. The LORD told Samuel that David was ‘a man after My own heart.’ Acts 13:22 (NIV) After removing 1Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’


creation— back to Himself. This can be said with certainty: God so loved His creation that after it fell into rebellion and chaos, He was not afraid or reluctant to dirty His hands and plunge His heart and being into His creation to reconcile it back to Himself. That open-hearted and open -handed willingness to reconcile a broken rebellious world back to Himself and restore it to wholeness is His glory— the majestic heart of God.

And, while doing this, God remained entirely consistent with and faithful to His ‘glory’— His Name. INDEXPart A Page 5 Section One— The Glory of God Shining Through Creation Page 7 Section Two— The Glory of God Shining In the Heart and Actions of Jesus Page 20 Section Three— The Glory of God Shining In the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Page 36 Section Four— God’s Triumph Page 45 Section Five— What About Mankind? Page 47 Section Six— Someone to stand in the Breach Page 53 Section Seven— The Glory of God in New Birth

Part B (To follow after alterations and corrections) Page tbd Introduction Page tbd Section Eight— Beginning New Life As A Little Child; Never To Be Alone Page tbd Section Nine— Learning To Walk With God Through God’s Life-Giving Spirit. Page tbd Section Ten— Growing As A Child Of God In, And Through, Trouble. Page tbd Section Eleven— Dying With Jesus In Order To Live? Page tbd Section Twelve— How Does All Of This Reflect The Glory Of God? Page tbd A Question Page tbd Addendum The Practical Application Ultimately, Who are the Guilty? Observations on the ‘Justice’ of God

Because people use various translations of the Bible, I have used passages from the ones most commonly used. All quotations are presented as a blue font

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


Section One— The Glory of God Shining Through Creation

Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior! Isaiah 46:15 (NASB)

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

The words of Job Job 12:7-10 (NIV)

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The words of David Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

“…that which is known about God is evident within men; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…” The words of Paul Taken from Romans 1:18-20 (NASB)

There is something beyond the beauty and wonder of nature that always seems to beckon from a greater distance. At various times in our lives we may wistfully sense it or even powerfully sense it. At other times we don’t sense it; yet it is always there. This beckoning or ‘call’ is from beyond earthly beauty as if from the stars, but in some mysterious way we may sense that it is something much larger and deeper than the universe itself. For many people, to imagine a universe without Something larger, is to experience a feeling of immense loneliness. This ‘Something larger’ isn’t just a ‘force’, a cosmic ‘power’ or a ‘religion’; it is a Person. This Person is a living, dynamic, highly creative, life-loving, self-existent Being with thoughts and feelings— a heart. God’s heart is poured out like a beautiful painting on a canvas through the beauty of His creation. Creation shouts out: Look! The One who created all this, He who lives in the fullest sense of ‘living’, is like the work of His hands: abounding in life, power, beauty, and wonder. Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

David said that the heavens declared the glory of God. What kind of a mind could imagine, design, bring into being, and then sustain through His own power, all the beauty and wonder we see in creation? The answer is obviously only a mind that is far greater than what can be seen in creation. As the writer of Hebrews states: Hebrews 3:3-4 (NASB)“…the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

Creation is a direct reflection of the character, nature, and majesty of God. And, He calls to us through the beauty and wonder of His handiwork and artistry. He calls us to Himself.


Why is He Beckoning or ‘Calling’ Us?

Are we lost? Yes and no. From our perspective, yes, we’re lost— we don’t understand God and we don’t have a viable connection to Him. Because it is so easy to be focused upon ourselves, the relative importance of that varies from time to time in our lives. Perhaps a lot of the time we don’t feel lost at all. However, we do sense a call at various points in our lives because God’s Spirit is speaking to our heart to draw us to Himself. Jesus said: John 6:44 (NIV) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. God actively draws us or calls us through His Spirit to listen to, learn about, and have faith in the One He sent— His Son. At some point, we may be ready to listen to Jesus and come to Him, but that requires a willingness on our part; it’s called repentance— turning to God through faith in His Son.

Are we lost from God’s perspective? Yes and no. He knows where we are and understands each one of us. In that sense, we are not lost. We are ‘lost’ in the sense that we’re apart from Him and headed in the wrong direction either by simple error, lack of understanding, rebelliousness, and always by our own choice. By natural instinct, all of us are turned to our own way rather than His way; in that sense we are truly lost. The current state of our world doesn’t help because it is so contrary to heart of God. We are very busy, stressed, and distracted by everyday living. Just trying to keep up with changing technology and social media can drain away time and energy needed to even think about God yet alone get out into the natural world and breathe in His creation. For many people even the beauty of nature has been rendered void of God through their faith in themselves or others who claim to have creation all figured out and also claim that they find no evidence for God or even a need for God. It’s a little like saying about a beautiful work of art: “There is no artist. We can explain how this was made. Given enough time, these things just happen— right out of nothing.” Statements like this, when applied to our Creator and His creation, fly in the face of so many men and women whose deepest and most meaningful experiences with God have occurred while outdoors surrounded by the sheer beauty of nature. The beauty of nature has a way of giving one the deep desire to worship the Creator. One has to be quite deliberate to avoid the beckoning of nature and to bow and give thanks.

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1 (NIV)


Section Two— The Glory of God Shining in the Heart and Actions of Jesus.

Isaiah 40:3-5 (NASB) A voice is calling,

“Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

“Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain,

And the rugged terrain a broad valley;

Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts

to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Creation is so beautiful, but we can’t see the Creator of all this beauty; He remains out of sight. Yet this Creator did something quite mysterious: He became one with us. It’s as if a painter could actually paint himself into his own painting. God sent His Son to be born as a man, the son of a woman. In fact, the Son most often referred to Himself as ‘the Son of Man’ (24 times as a title in Matthew). Jesus even said that His Father had given all judgment into His hand because He is the Son of Man: John 5:26-27 (ESV) 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man..

God sent His Son, born of a woman; this is important. As we will see later, the LORD looked for a man to stand before Him as a mediator on behalf of men and do what was right in His eyes. Not finding one person able or willing to do so, not one who sought justice and spoke the truth, He sent His own Son, born of a woman— the Son of Man— to do His will and mediate on behalf of fallen humanity. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

God’s love and compassion for us shines most gloriously in this: He sent His own “Son of Man” to be the Redeemer of the sons and daughters of Adam and bring them back to Himself. Here are the words of Jesus explaining why:John 3:16-17 (ESV)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him…”


God has highly honored us by coming to us in human form. While on earth, the Son clearly demonstrated who God is and what He is like. Through His Son, the Son of Man, God is drawing us back to Himself. We begin our study with the glory and majesty of God revealed in the heart and actions of His Son.

The Apostle John refers to Jesus as the ‘Word’ and stating in a manner quite beyond the edge of human comprehension, that the man Jesus is God and Creator:John 1:1-5 (ESV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That isn’t easy to understand. However, there is something that can be understood and held onto: Jesus was the demonstration of what God is like as a person: In him was life, and the life was the light of men. What life? The life of God. God put His own life, or character and nature, or heart, on display in human form as a light in our spiritual darkness shouting out: “This is what God is like.” God put Himself into humble human form so that we could understand what He is like. Yes, there is more to it than that, but this is a good starting point: Jesus acted exactly like God would have acted in each of the circumstances He faced in life. He majestically lived and died the life and heart of God. The writer of Hebrews states: Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV)Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,..

Although He lived in the most humble of circumstances, He was and is the radiance or full expression of the “glory of God” and the exact imprint of God’s character and nature. Jesus is exactly like his Father so much so Jesus could reply to his disciple Philip’s request to see ‘the Father’ in this manner:John 14:8-10 (ESV)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’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jesus only spoke the words that His Father wanted him to say. By His words and actions Jesus explained who God is and what He is like. The Apostle John writes this in the opening chapter of his gospel:(from) John 1:14-18 (ESV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God; the only God, [only Son] who is at the Father's side, he [the Son of God] has made him [God] known. (NASB— has explained Him.)


Jesus has demonstrated the character and nature of God exactly. The statement we saw earlier— “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” is confirmed in the words of Jesus to Philip: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

If we combine the John 1 and Hebrews 1 verses, it looks something like this: (John + Hebrews)John 1:1-5 (ESV) + Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life, the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, was the light of men. The exact imprint of his nature shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There is unbroken harmony between the declarations of nature (Psalm 19:1-4), God’s word, and the revelation of the heart of God through the person of Jesus. This isn’t surprising; it is the same God revealing Himself in three different manners. Nature is wonderful and beautiful. There must be similar wonder and beauty in the way Jesus lived and died. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the American Declaration of Independence, considered Jesus to be the greatest moral teacher who ever lived. Jefferson took all of Jesus’ teachings, compiled them into a book called the Jefferson Bible and stated that Jesus had given humanity the greatest moral code ever written. However there is far more to Jesus than just being a fine moral teacher. Jesus was the revelation of the heart of God and everything positive that a human being can be. He was the Light, the glory of God, who entered into the spiritual darkness that deeply overshadowed the whole earth. As the prophet Isaiah writes:Isaiah 60:2 (ESV) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

This ‘glory’ or ‘great light’, Jesus, was the example of how we are to care for people and honor God. We see examples of this in all His healing works, casting out of demons, and in His words. If we look at Old Testament prophesies about Jesus, we can compare them to the way Jesus acted towards men and women. Again, if He is the exact imprint of the nature of God (per Hebrews 1:1-3), He acts in the way God (the LORD) would have acted under the same circumstances. So what was Jesus like (and therefore what is God like)?

Isaiah prophesied these words of the LORD about Jesus:Isaiah 42:6-8 (ESV)“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

The writer of Hebrews attributes this statement to Jesus: Hebrews 10:5-7 (ESV)


5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

Everything that Jesus did in His life and death was according to His Father’s will and also a fulfillment of prophecy regarding Him. Here are a few examples.

Jesus quoted from the prophecy of Isaiah (61:1-3) when He told the people in the synagogue at Nazareth that He was fulfilling Isaiah’s words.Luke 4:17-19 (NIV)17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV) The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; [footnote: afflicted] he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; [Footnote: the opening of the eyes to those who are blind; Septuagint: and recovery of sight to the blind]2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. [Footnote: glorified— that He may display His beauty]

It is important to note the ending of verse 3— that He may be glorified. [Footnote Or: that He may display His beauty]. This is a direct reference to the glory or beauty of the character and nature— heart— of the LORD God. Through Jesus, God was shouting out: This is exactly what I am like! Here is my heart. Here are my thoughts and feelings toward you and all of My creation! Watch Him, listen to Him!

The following pages provide just a few examples where Jesus demonstrated the heart of God while fulfilling prophecies of Isaiah.

* Isaiah 42:6-8 I will give you as a covenant for the people… to open the eyes that are blind…

Jesus cared enough about humans to open the eyes of the blind:

John 9:1-7 (ESV) 1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he


spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

There is something almost hidden in that passage: Jesus defended the respectability (honor) of the man. Defended? Yes. At that time, to be infirm was considered the result of being a sinner or the result of a parent’s sin. That’s why the disciples asked Him “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus said that this had nothing to do with sin, but rather had to do with the work of God: 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus opened the eyes of the physically blind, but more importantly He came to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. Isaiah wrote about a ‘veil’ or ‘spiritual blindness’ and death that covers the earth:

Isaiah 25:7 (NASB)And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.

Isaiah referred to this again, referring to it as a deep ‘darkness’, but he also gave a promise, a hope for all peoples:Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 60:2 (NASB) “For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9 when he writes about Jesus going into the region of Galilee:Matthew 4:12-17(ESV)12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Paul mentions this spiritual ‘blindness’ in 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Jesus came to take away that Satanic blindness and darkness for anyone who would turn to Him: John 8:12 (ESV)


Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This ‘light’ was sent from God. Paul refers to this in 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

This is the very thing God wanted Jesus to do: bring the light of who He is into our world of spiritual darkness. He also came to defend or rescue us from satanic darkness: 1 John 3:8The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

High on the list of the works of Satan is spiritual darkness. Satan really doesn’t want us to know what God is like or understand how much God loves us. Satan’s desire is to obscure our Creator’s character, make Him seem malevolent, deceptive, or if nothing else, irrelevant and replaceable. God destroyed the works of the devil through His Son whom He sent to do His will and bring light— the character and nature of God— into the darkness.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)13 He (the Father) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Here is a curious thing: until we can spiritually ‘see’, we’re unaware that we are blind. As John Newton wrote:

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav'd a wretch like me!I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

Jesus cared enough about people to open the eyes of the physically blind. He cares enough to open the eyes of the spiritually blind for anyone who turns to Him.

* Isaiah 61:1 …he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted… [to have compassion on the brokenhearted.]

Jesus demonstrated God’s heart of compassion for the broken hearted: Luke 7:11-15 (ESV) 11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

* Isaiah 61:1 …to proclaim liberty to the captives…


Jesus demonstrated God’s heartfelt desire and ability to free people oppressed and imprisoned by Satan:

Luke 13:10-16 (ESV) 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

Through His own death Jesus rendered Satan powerless and freed people from fear of death:Hebrews 2:14-16 (NASB)14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Jesus openly demonstrated God’s heart of compassion for mankind and Jesus was willing to endure the anger of Satan by freeing people from his grasp and imprisonment. (Surely Satan was angered by this kind of activity and would have tried to oppose and oppress Jesus relentlessly.)

When Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven, He didn’t try to physically describe heaven other than to say on one occasion that there were many rooms or mansions there. Instead, He spoke about what Kingdom of God people would be like in that place (or what their current lives should or could be like). Here are some examples from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.Matthew 5:1-11 (ESV)1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I wonder how many humble hearts hearing His words yearned for that future day. It does make a heart yearn. He went on and came to this passage:Matthew 5:38-48 (ESV)


“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. God is like that? God shows kindness to all men whether good or bad? Apparently so, because that is what He asks of us:1 Peter 2:13-23 (ESV)13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Jesus forgave sinners who had faith in Him and He proved it:Matthew 9:1-8 (ESV)1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing [perceiving] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

He healed lepers, deaf people, and a number of demon possessed people. Jesus never refused to help anyone. He raised people from death; the son of the widow (above) and


Lazarus are examples. John states that He did so many things the world couldn‘t contain the books written about them. John 21:25 (NIV)Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. Those things that are recorded are recorded for a purpose: to reveal the character and nature of God. They are not just to display His miraculous powers.

Jesus taught extensively about the kingdom of heaven and who would, and who wouldn’t, be there. Regarding heaven itself, just from the aspect of how people will act toward each other, it sounds like a very beautiful place and very much in keeping with the beauty of creation and the character and nature of God. Jesus said that it was better to enter into life lacking something (even a physical feature) than it would be to miss out on the Kingdom of God.

These are but a very few of the things that Jesus said and did, but all these were words and works of the Father. Jesus said this: John 14:10 (NASB) Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Jesus said this in Luke 6:45 (NIV):A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Jesus’ heart was a direct reflection of the heart of God. Therefore all His words reflect what is in God’s heart. One day God will provide a complete and permanent healing— permanent healing of the spiritual rift between God and man, complete freedom from slavery to sin and darkness, and a permanent resurrection from disease and death. He will accomplish it through His Son. Jesus said this: John 6:40 (ESV) For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”Again, He was sympathetic and compassionate, willing to stop and heal, and willing to accept the anger of Satan by freeing people from his grasp and imprisonment. These are the things God sent Jesus to do and, as the light of the world, to demonstrate God’s heart. So, thus far, what do we have? Jesus was sympathetic and compassionate, forgiving, a defender of the defenseless, and He desires greatly to free people from bondage to Satan and sinful behavior.

We see these things in the life of Jesus and on a wider scale we can see these things in the whole character and nature of God. Let’s look briefly at the wider picture.

DEATH Jesus raised a young man back to life and returned him to his grieving mother. He not only restored life, He removed the veil of pain and grief from his mother and restored the young man and woman’s joy. On the larger scale, Isaiah states this:

Isaiah 25:7-9 (NIV)7 On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove His people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.


9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

The Psalmist writes this: Psalm 102:18-22 (ESV)18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: 19 that He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, 21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem His praise, 22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

And the Apostle John writes this:Revelation 21:1-41 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

God is compassionate towards us and one day He will end death and the pain of separation from loved ones. He will restore the joy of the human life and spirit.

As Jesus said:John 6:40 (ESV) 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

RELEIF FOR THE HARASSED AND HELPLESS

In Matthew 9:35-37 (ESV) we read this about Jesus compassion on the harassed and helpless:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

On a wider scale, the LORD promised a compassionate Shepherd for all mankind: Isaiah 40:3-113 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;


Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. 9 Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah,“Here is your God!” 10 Behold, the LORD God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. 11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Isaiah writes this regarding God’s Chosen Shepherd: Isaiah 42:1-8 (ESV) 1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Paul writes this:Romans 5:1-9 (NASB)1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the LORD’s Shepherd), 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, (NIV— ‘powerless’ ESV— weak) at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Isaiah 25:4-5 (NIV) 4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a


wall 5 and like the heat of the desert. You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled.

One day God will bring all oppression, abuse, and helplessness to an end.

HUNGERRegarding hunger, God promises far more than just meeting the physical need for food. God promises to fill the ‘hunger’ for the abundance—fulfillment— of human life. As Jesus said, John 10:9-10 (ESV)9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

And as promised in Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Revelation 21:5-75 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. Is God compassionate towards us? Ho!Isaiah 55:1-3 (NASB)1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. 3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

Romans 5:5-10 (ESV)5 …hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 63:1-3 (ESV) A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.


1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

What else was Jesus (and therefore God) like as a Person?

Jesus deeply loved God and mankind.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment was this: (a summation of the first four of the original ten commandments) Matthew 22:35-38 (NASB)…a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.

Jesus loved God and always obeyed Him even right through a horrendous death on a cross. Jesus said that in His death the world would know (ESV) or learn (NIV) that He loved His Father.John 14:30-31 (ESV) I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

[NIV comparison: John 14:30-31 (NIV)30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.]

In the Matthew passage, Jesus went on to tell the lawyer that the second commandment was also important: (a summation of the final six commandments of the original ten commandments) Matthew 22:39-40 (NASB) The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

It can be truly said of Jesus that He loved the LORD His God with all His heart, mind, and strength, and He loved His neighbor as Himself. Nowhere is this more clearly displayed than in His death and resurrection. Importantly, how Jesus acted in His trial and execution displayed the character and nature (glory) of God. In the following section, we’ll see God’s character and nature— His Glory— displayed clearly in Jesus’ behavior at the time of His death. (For your own exploration, it is interesting to compare this with His Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew.)


Section Three— The Glory of God Shining In the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Psalm 79:9 (ESV)Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!

Luke 18:7-8 (NASB)Jesus said “…will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly…”

There are many different things said and theorized about Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus said this: John 12:27-33 (NASB)“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

“Father, glorify Your name.” Such a beautiful and seemingly simple statement from one facing an incredibly difficult death. God’s name reveals His character and nature. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, rather than show Moses an overwhelming display of ‘physical’ magnificence or splendor, God revealed the meaning of His Name (the ‘LORD’) to Moses. The LORD revealed exactly what He was like as a Person by revealing/describing His full character and nature; that is important. Everything that Jesus did was consistent with the Name of God and so Jesus, in direct connection with his death, said: “Father, glorify Your name”. In other words, reveal Yourcharacter and nature through Me even in my death.

Notice that the voice from heaven says, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” In John 17, Jesus gives us an explanation for the past tense reference ‘I have glorified it’ (God’s Name). Through Jesus’ accomplishments on earth, God’s name has been glorified. God’s character was made visible in the darkness. These accomplishments are presented in the following passage: John 17:1-12 (ESV)1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do… 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them… They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them… 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.12 While I was with them,


I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. Jesus had already brought the Father glory by: Revealing what He is like: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. Giving the Father’s own words: I gave them the words you gave me Protecting His followers: I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me

Jesus said that He had glorified the Father; that is, He had fully demonstrated the character and nature (heart) of God to His followers. He went on to say: Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. It seems reasonable to assume that Jesus was asking the Father to allow a full demonstration of Jesus’ character and nature (heart) during ‘the hour’ (His trial and death). We need to come back to this toward the end of this section, but let’s proceed with how Jesus’ illuminated or ‘glorified’ the Father’s name through His death. John 12:27 (NASB)“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”

What can we understand about our Creator through His own explanation of the meaning of His name? Once again, here is what the LORD said to Moses:

Exodus 34:5-8 (ESV)5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. Footnotes: [a] Exodus 34:7 Or to the thousandth generation

The words ‘steadfast love’ (other versions: love or lovingkindness) and ‘faithfulness’ (other versions: truth) are the Hebrew words ‘chesed’ and ‘emeth.’ These two words appear together a number of times in Old Testament passages. For example:

Genesis 24:26-27 (ESV) (Abraham’s servant sent to find a wife for Isaac)The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.”

Psalm 25:10 (ESV)All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.


Psalm 89:14 (ESV)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

The Apostle John brings his readers back to the giving of the law and the appearance of the glory of the LORD to Moses by a subtle reference back to the Exodus 34 passage: John 1:14-18 (ESV)14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Please allow me to set John 1:14-18 and Hebrews 1:3 in the context of Exodus 34. It would look something like this: 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father,, full of grace (steadfast love or lovingkindness— chesed) and truth (faithfulness— emeth). 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, lovingkindness upon lovingkindness. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; lovingkindness and faithfulness were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, the Son, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

On the basis of God’s lovingkindness toward us and His faithfulness to us, Paul can confidently say:Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen and amen

Just as Moses was given the meaning of the LORD’S name (God’s glory), the apostle John states that Jesus was the full demonstration of the ‘glory of God’ and that through Him we have received God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness and we have also been given the explanation of what God is like. Exodus 34:5-8, John 1:14-18, and Hebrews 1:3 are intricately woven together.

Back in the Exodus 34:5-8 passage, notice what is first mentioned:“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,…

It is true that the LORD does not leave the guilty unpunished; how could He? Jesus points out the basis for the eventual and ultimate verdict on the guilty:


John 3:17-26 (NIV)17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:36 (ESV)36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Why is God angry with people and why does God’s wrath remain on people? The answer is this: God has given a clear demonstration as to Who He is and people refuse to turn from their own way back to Him in repentance. As Paul writes in Romans:Romans 1:18-19 (ESV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” Our Creator has clearly demonstrated who He is and He patiently waits for people to turn back to Him from their own self-seeking ways (repent). We have a choice to make:Romans 2:4-8 (ESV) …do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Creation is one ‘light’. Jesus is the greater ‘Light’. The Light has shown brilliantly in the darkness; men and women are without excuse for rejecting their Creator. However it is important to note that this is not the LORD’s first priority in giving Moses the meaning of His Name. His first priority is that people would know that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

Jesus shows the same priority in His discussion with Nicodemus: John 3:16-18 (NIV)16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but


whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

God wants people to acknowledge Him as their Creator, know Him, believe Him, turn from their own way, and turn to Him in faith (repentance). God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone.

Ezekiel 18:23 (ESV)Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the LORD God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)11 Say to them, As I live, declares the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

God is faithful to His promises; if we turn to Him we will live. Yes, the guilty will be punished, but their guilt ultimately is based upon their rejection of God and His Son. When Jesus says “Glorify your name” (through My death) He is saying “Present Your character and nature in Me and through Me even as I die.” Recall what we read earlier: Isaiah 60:2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 5:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. John 1:4-5 In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

In the final moments of the darkness of death, the extreme oppression of Satan, and the savage madness of men, the Light— the life and glory of God— shone brilliantly. The darkness could not overcome it.

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If Jesus is the Light of the world— the exact image or representation of God— then it is reasonable to expect that Jesus would have behaved exactly like His Father would have behaved in the cruel circumstances of His execution. Jesus’ behavior just before and during his trial and execution sheds much light on God’s character and confirms the majesty of God’s heart. Here are some examples:

1) His disciples were fearful of what may happen to him (and probably themselves), but they were amazed at his resolve. Jesus, although He knew that He would face unfathomable difficulty, would not avoid it in order to save himself. Jesus was not timid or fearful.

Mark 10:32-33 (ESV)32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to


tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.

Notice that Jesus was not hiding Himself in the protection of the crowd. On the contrary, He was walking in front of the crowd. He has great confidence in His Father and His purpose:

Isaiah prophesied this: Isaiah 50:6-8 (NKJV)6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. 7 “For the LORD God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. 8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.

JESUS WAS NOT TIMID OR FEARFUL OF MEN, SATAN, PAIN, or DEATH

2) Although well aware of his position of King over all things, He kept a stunningly humble opinion of himself choosing to serve rather than be served. He urged his followers to be like-minded. John 13 (ESV)1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus was not arrogant, self-seeking, or self-serving. The Apostle Paul speaks of Jesus’ attitude toward Himself and others: Philippians 2:3-11 (ESV) 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not


only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

JESUS WAS NOT ARROGANT, SELF-SEEKING, OR SELF-SERVING.

3) Jesus didn’t avoid the truth in order to spare himself nor did He strike back. He did not even defend himself with words. He just simply spoke what was true and He remained faithful to what was true. Mark 14:55-65 (ESV)55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

Ironically, the final accusation leveled against Jesus was completely true— He was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed. That isn’t blasphemy, it is true and Jesus didn’t deny it or hide it in order to save Himself.

JESUS REMAINED FAITHFUL AND TRUE John refers to this in Revelation 19:11 (NASB) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True…

4) Jesus asked His Father to forgive the men who were crucifying Him. Obviously Jesus had forgiven them in His own heart or He would not have asked for such a thing. This is not at all uncharacteristic of Jesus; He forgave sinners.

Luke 23:33-35 (NASB) 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.


35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

5) He acknowledged and honored a very simple and childlike faith even as He was in great pain and dying.

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV) 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Stop for a moment. Both criminals had started out reviling Him:

Matthew 27:39-44 (NASB)39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

What was it about Jesus that would change one criminal’s mind? Surely it was the same thing the Roman centurion observed about Jesus: innocence and righteousness. It is most probable that this centurion oversaw or at least observed the mocking of the soldiers in the Praetorium because the whole Roman battalion was called together (Matthew 27:27). This centurion had probably overseen many crucifixions and watched how men die. The centurion would have watched how Jesus reacted to the mocking and abuse as well as His death on the cross. At Jesus’ death, this centurion began to praise God saying: “Surely this was an innocent man” (Luke) or Surely this was the Son of God.” (Mathew and Mark) 2

It is notable that the centurion does not say: “Surely this man got what He deserved.” Or, “Surely this man was 2cursed by God or obviously experienced the wrath of God.” No. The centurion watched a man suffer without retaliating or cursing his persecutors and proclaimed Him innocent. Contrast this with what people initially thought regarding what happened to Paul in Acts 28:2-4 (NIV)2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” The centurion obviously was not in awe of a terrible judgment poured out upon Jesus by God, but rather praised God because of the righteous way in which Jesus died. He didn’t see a guilty person in Jesus or he would not have declared him innocent or the Son of God. He saw an innocent and righteous man brutalized and never respond in anger or even threaten vengeance. The writer of Hebrews makes this statement: Hebrews 9:14 (ESV) …how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.


Matthew 27:54 (NASB) Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39 (NASB) When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Luke 23:47 (NASB) Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

The testimony of a Roman centurion is important because he confirms that Jesus was righteous even in death. Jesus was the exact representation of the character and nature of God— righteous. Even in the midst of the savage brutality of men and extreme antagonism of Satan, God demonstrated His own heart and righteousness. The criminal, having observed the same things as the centurion about Jesus as He was dying, repented; that is, rather than continue to reject and revile Him, he turned and put his faith in Jesus. Why? He saw the character of God; he was moved from mockery to belief, acknowledgment, and faith. He knew that he could trust in Jesus even in his own death. Amazing change.

JESUS HONORED ANYONE WHO PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM (and still does)

Peter makes this statement about Jesus in death:1 Peter 2:20-22 (ESV)20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Paul writes the following passage, not because he desires to be tortured and crucified, but because he desires to have the same kind of character as Jesus in death:Philippians 3:10 (NIV)I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…

6) In the final moments as human life ebbed away, Jesus still took time to care for his mother and honor his disciple John. Jesus remained compassionate on others even while he suffered.

John 19:23-27 (ESV) 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,


“They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Remember the widow of Nain who had lost her only son? Jesus was compassionate on her and her son. Now He is compassionate on His own mother and highly honors His disciple John.

JESUS WAS STILL COMPASSIONATE ON OTHERS EVEN WHILE HE SUFFERED.

7) He gave himself over in complete faith to his Father— Luke 23:46 (ESV) Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this, he breathed his last. Faith? Yes, even in death, Jesus demonstrated the same kind of faith/trust in His Father that our Father desires us to have in Him. Remember, Jesus in His humanness was like his brothers fully human in every way… Hebrews 2:17 (NIV)

The words of this passage confirm the extent to which Jesus became just like us and how He is able to relate to us in the difficulties we face:Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV)14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. The writer of Hebrews attributes the following statement to Jesus regarding his faith in his Father as the writer quotes from Isaiah 8:12-20 in Hebrews 2:13 (NASB) “I will put My trust in Him.” [Quoted from Isaiah 8:17]. Jesus relied on His Father for everything in his life and Jesus had faith/trust in His Father right through death. Wait, wait… but He’s God; He doesn’t need faith like we do! Philippians 2:3-8 shows us the extent to which Jesus, in some unfathomable way, put some divine attributes aside in order to become just like us: Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV) 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.


The writer of Hebrews confirms Jesus’ reliance on God through human faith: Hebrews 5:7 (ESV) In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 3

It is hard to understand how the Son of God, who is God, relied on God in human faith. However, “I will put My trust in Him” and “Jesus offered up prayers and supplications… to Him who was able to save him…” is completely harmonious with: “[He] emptied himself, by taking the from of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” and “… he had to be made like his brothers in every respect…”It is important to understand that Jesus expressed the same kind of human faith in God that God asks of us. God doesn’t seem to ask anything of us that He didn’t ask of His Son (although He asked of much more of His Son).

JESUS HAD COMPLETE FAITH AND TRUST IN HIS FATHER

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And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)

Jesus was well aware of His impending death. In reference to his death, He said this:John 10:17-18 (NIV) The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

And as we saw earlier, He said this:John 12:27-33 (NASB)“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”… …Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

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