25 Glory Given
Glory Given
How wonderful is the conduct of our Lord Jesus Christ! His love to his people is so strong, so tender, that he never appears to think that he can do too much for them, or confer too much upon them. Very early he began to act for them, and at every opportunity he has poured blessings upon them. All that he has — he shares with them, as he said, "And the glory which you gave me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one (John 17:22).
Jesus Would Have His People like Himself.
Like himself inholiness. This is the glory and perfection of his person. In this he rejoices, and by this he is distinguished from all others. He is "The Holy One." Holiness is the great need of our nature, for in holiness consists its true dignity and glory. For holiness, when under the teaching of the Holy Spirit — we sigh, pant, and pray. On holiness, the heart of Jesus is set — nor will he be satisfied until we are exactly like himself.
Like him inhappiness. Once he was the Man of Sorrows, and knew as little of happiness as most of us. He suffered, being tempted. He came daily into contact with sin, though never so as to be defiled by it; and sin was a constant source of grief to him. But he is now happy, perfectly and eternally happy; and he wishes his people to be happy as himself, and happy with himself. Happiness grows out of holiness; and therefore in order to make us happy — he makes us holy. Holiness is God’s delight — it is a principal part of the divine image; and therefore Jesus would have us holy, even as he is holy.
Like himself inhonor. He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, for us. But now he is highly exalted, and wears a name which is above every name. Every honorable title is given to him, the most honored position is assigned to him, and the highest honor of Heaven is paid to him. He does not wish to enjoy his honor alone — but wishes his people to share with him; therefore he appoints unto them a kingdom, awards them white robes, and will confer on them crowns of glory!
Blessed Jesus! our highest aspirations are, to see you, be like you, and be with you forever. This will be honor enough, happiness enough, and Heaven enough for us. To be as holy as you are, as happy as you are, and as honorable as you are — not only meets our desires — but goes far beyond all we could have dared to think of!
Jesus Communicates to His People What His Father Conferred on Him: "The glory which you gave me — I have given them." All the glory that arises from his finished work, meritorious sacrifice, and wondrous substitution for them — he confers upon them. Every honor in which they can share with him — he shares with them.
It is one of his highest honors to be the Son of God, the object of God’s highest love, his infinite delight. This honor he confers on them. "To as many as received him, to them gave he power," or on them he conferred the privilege, "to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name."
Out of sonship grows heirship; he is "heir of all things," and to them it is given to be "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ." He is the image of the invisible God, the only revealer and manifester of God. But stamping his image, his likeness upon them — he gives to them the honor of making known the Father. So that while he is the mirror in which they behold the Father’s glory — they are the mirror in which the world sees it.
He received of the Father, the Holy Spirit without measure, being anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; which Spirit fitted and qualified his human nature for his great and glorious work. That Spirit he gives to his Church, to every one of his people; which Spirit is its life, the source of its holiness, happiness, and honor. The glorious gospel, containing the brightest, deepest, and most glorious thoughts of God, was committed unto him. He brought it into our world, he published it himself, he imparted it to his apostles, and left it as a choice legacy to his people. As he is appointed to be King of kings, the great High Priest of our profession, and the Judge of all — so has he given to his people to be kings and priests unto God, and has appointed them with himself to judge the angels, and also to judge the world.
All that is contained in that sweet, profound, and wondrous word "grace" — he has conferred on them. Grace, which is the seed of glory! Grace, which beautifies, adorns, and renders the divine nature so attractive to us!
O beloved, Jesus parted with all for us once — and Jesus confers all on us now! Through his wondrous beneficence . . .
we are the sons of God, and the heirs of God;
we are stamped with the image of God;
we are inhabited by the Spirit of God;
we are entrusted with the glorious gospel;
we are made kings, priests, prophets, and judges;
and we possess all the fullness of grace, as introductory to the fullness of glory. The Object Jesus Had in View Was Worthy of Himself: "That they may be one — even as we are one." That is, one in feeling, in principle, and in purpose. This is the case now, in a measure — but it is not perfectly so. On many subjects, and those the most important, we do all feel alike.
Yet the grand principle of action in every child of God is the same. Our one purpose is, that God may be glorified — glorified by all our works, and glorified in every possible way. As God had but one purpose in creation, redemption, and our sanctification — so Jesus would have us have but one purpose in all that we do. His heart was set upon making and keeping his people one. For this he lived, and suffered, and died. For this he pleaded on earth, and for this he intercedes in Heaven. Nor, until all the objects of his love are one, as he is one with the Father, and as the Father is one with him — will he, can he, be satisfied.
Let us, then, set our hearts on the same object. For this let us pray and strive; and, by every means in our power, let us seek to bring the Lord’s people together, and keep them together. What sacrifices Jesus made for this! What sacrifice, then, shall we think too costly — to obtain an end so near to the heart of Jesus, as this was?
Beloved, our glory will be substantially the same as Christ’s. What God communicates to him — he communicates to us. Most probably, through all eternity, Jesus will be the medium of communication between God and us. All the glory of the Godhead will shine forth on him, and through him, in mild, softened, and united rays — will shine forth on us. All the happiness of Deity will flow into his capacious soul, and be by him — transmitted to us. In him we shall see all the glorious perfections and attributes of the divine nature — and from him we shall receive and enjoy all that is communicable in God.
One with Christ, we shall be near to God — and not only near to God — but one with God, and as holy as God is holy. O blessed. blessed prospect — for such poor, miserable, wretched creatures as we are! We are in a better condition than Adam was before he fell. His was a short season of joy — but centuries of suffering; ours will be a short season of suffering — and after that, an eternity of happiness! Our present afflictions are light — but there awaits us a weight of glory. The sufferings of the present time, however severe or protracted, were not, in the estimation of the apostle — worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us! Our glory is the fruit of union. Jesus acquired the right to it, and then gave us the promise, the pledge, and the first fruits of it. Without union to Christ — we can have no title, no right of inheritance; but in union with Jesus — all things are ours. All the acquired glory of Jesus, as the head of his body the Church — he reflects upon them, and imparts to them; and as he is the glory of his Father, so his people will be his glory forever.
All that he can communicate to his people — he will. All that they can receive and enjoy — they shall. Having given them himself — he gives them his glory too.
They are Christ’s, who are really like him. Like him in a measure now, they will be perfectly like him at last. As John says, "This we know, that we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." We are made like him, by receiving from him. As he said to Peter, "If I wash you not, you have no part with me," — so, if we do not receive from him, we cannot be like him; and if we are not like him, we have no part in him. For, "if any man has not the Spirit of Christ — he is none of his." If we receive grace from Christ, we shall receive glory from Christ; if we receive from Christ now — we shall receive from Christ forever.
Holy Spirit, unfold this wondrous subject more clearly and more fully to our minds. May we realize more powerfully our oneness with Jesus; may we receive more largely from Jesus the grace that we now desire and need; and may we reflect more clearly and more fully, the glory of Jesus, in all we do, or say, or suffer!
Gracious Savior, truly your love is wonderful, it passes knowledge! What a sublime, what a generous nature is yours! O for confidence in you — the confidence which your nature, your Word, and your conduct warrant; for surely we may well say: He who has given himself for us, he who has given his acquired glory to us, he who has promised to share his throne with us — how shall he not after this, freely give us all things!
Beloved, what an example for us! Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Here he places the fact in the clearest and most striking light. When he came into our world, in order to enrich us, he became poor; and now be is prepared to communicate to us what his Father has communicated to him. If Jesus is thus liberal — shall we be niggardly? If he is prepared to give that which cost him so much labor, suffering, and even death itself — shall we object to impart that which cost us so little, perhaps nothing? If he is so lavish with his spiritual riches, conferring even his glory on each and every one of his people — shall not we give them of our temporal things? Shall Jesus hunger, in his people — and we not feed him? Shall he be naked — and we not clothe him? Shall he be sick — and we not visit him? Shall he be homeless — and we not take him in? How can we without shame and blushing, receive so much from him — if we refuse, or neglect, to give liberally to him?