Glory is the Weight of One’s Greatness
In the New Testament, the word glory means honor, renown and splendor that evokes good opinion. But it draws from the Old Testament idea of weight. Figuratively, glory is the weight of one’s honor, renown and splendor. Think of someone great and picture gold coins added to a jar for each of their good attributes. The greater the attribute the more coins. Once you’re done, imagine picking up the jar. This weight of greatness comes close to the Biblical concept of glory.
Jesus Christ is divinely glorious. If you could translate his good attributes into gold coins, they would fill all the jars in all the world. They would fill every building, every car, every field, every mountainside, every ocean. They would overflow the earth. We would have to blast rockets full of them into space, where they would continue to accumulate forever.
In Mark 9:2-8, the disciples glimpsed Jesus’ divine glory in an event known as The Transfiguration.
Six Ways the Transfiguration Points to Jesus’ Divine Glory
The Mountain
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Mark 9:2)
Throughout the Bible, mountains are places where God’s glory is revealed:
- He tested Abraham on Mt. Moriah.
- He gave the law on Mt. Sinai.
- He defeated the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
- He reassured Elijah on Mt. Horeb.
And here the disciples are on a mountain with Jesus.
The Radiance
And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. (Mark 9:3)
After Moses encountered God’s glorious presence, his face was too radiant for the people of Israel. He had to wear a veil (Exodus 34:29-35). During the transfiguration, Jesus shone with an inherent radiance. Moses reflected God’s divine glory; Jesus produced it. Moses was like the moon, Jesus like the sun.
Elijah and Moses
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:4)
This is strange, and we are not given much explanation. But we know that Elijah and Moses can be thought of as figureheads of the prophets and the law. We also know from later revelation that Jesus is preeminent over both.
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 heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of the house has more honor than the house itself. (Hebrews 3:3)
The Tents
And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (Mark 9:5-6)
This seems silly to modern American Christians, but to ancient Jews this suggestion might have made sense. During an important period of Hebrew history, God’s glorious presence dwelt with his people in a tent (the tabernacle). Here Peter seems to have sensed something divinely glorious in what was happening.
The Cloud
And a cloud overshadowed them. (Mark 9:7)
In the Old Testament, the glory of the Lord sometimes appeared in a cloud. Exodus 40:34-35 is one example:
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
The Voice
And a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:7)
When I became pastor of Dulin’s Grove Church, it was largely due to two men whom the church trusted endorsing me. This is somewhat like what’s happening here. God the Father is verbally endorsing Jesus as his unique Son, like he did after Jesus’ baptism in Mark 1:9-11.
The transfiguration is a glimpse of Jesus’ radiating, preeminent, divine glory as the Son of God.
Why the Transfiguration Matters
When your eyes are used to darkness, and someone suddenly turns on the lights, it hurts. Exposure to divine glory is like that, but on the soul level and multiplied by infinity. Normally, it’s fatal, therefore God’s people had to insulate themselves from it with tents and priests and sacrifices and distance. But In Mark 9, three men experienced the divine glory of Jesus Christ and lived.
Here’s why this is significant for us: During the transfiguration, Peter, James and John glimpsed for a moment what we have access to every day. For all who trust and follow Jesus Christ, sins are forgotten and access to God is granted.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way the he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
But Jesus is Gone
The disciples were able to relate to Jesus physically, in person; but now he’s gone, ascended back into heaven. Therefore we tend to feel at a disadvantage in regard to experiencing divine glory. But Jesus’ ascension actually increases our potential for such an experience in two ways.
Now Jesus is Exalted
John 1:1 teaches that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Philippians 2:6-7 then teaches that “though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Now that his work on earth is done, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
During the majority of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples knew him in humility; we know him in glory. They knew him as emptied of divine form; we know him as the Word who is God. They knew him in the form of a servant; we know him as highly exalted. They knew him in the likeness of men; we know him by the name that is above every name.
Now We Have the Holy Spirit
As Jesus explained that he would be leaving his disciples, he sensed that they were getting upset. Here’s how he consoled them:
Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you…He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:6-7; 14)
Jesus taught that it is to our advantage that he be absent from us, so that the Spirit might be present in us. This means that our potential to experience divine glory is greater now than it was for Peter, James and John on that mountaintop, yet we take it for granted.
Taking Divine Glory for Granted
Someone has said that if we could only see the stars one night per year, we would rearrange our lives in order to enjoy the experience. But as it is, with nightly access, we’d rather watch TV. It’s this way with God’s glory too. What if you could only access the Bible and prayer one day each year? What lengths would you go to, what price would you pay experience God’s glorious truth, voice and presence on that special day? Yet we have constant access, and we ignore it.
How Do Christians Experience Divine Glory?
One way to answer this question is: beholding. A Christian can experience divine glory as he beholds:
- creation (Psalm 19:1-6; John 1:3; Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:16)
- the Son (John 1:14; Ephesians 1:17-23; Colossians 1:15-20)
- the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)
- the Bible (Psalm 19:7-11; John 20:30-31). (For more on this, read John Piper’s book A Peculiar Glory.)
But there’s another way I want to highlight. We cannot experience divine glory by trying hard enough. It is a miraculous work of God, which is why Paul prayed this way:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. (Ephesians 1:17-19)
This means:
- Unless God gives us the Spirit of wisdom, we will see nothing when we behold the sky, even though “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).
- Unless God gives us the Spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, we will be unable to join John in seeing his glory, “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
- Unless God enlightens the eyes of our hearts, we will remain unable to see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Therefore another important way to answer the question How do Christians experience divine glory? Is prayer. Like Paul, let’s ask God for the miraculous ability to see his glory in creation, Jesus, the gospel and Scripture.
What Will Change as We Experience Divine Glory?
If we will behold God’s glory, we will be transfigured. God teaches in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” As we behold the glory of the Lord as revealed in creation, the Son, the gospel and the Bible, we are transformed:
- From hopeless to hopeful (Ephesians 1:18)
- From fearful to faithful (Ephesians 1:18-19)
- From selfish to selfless (Philippians 2:4-11)
- From distant to drawn near (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Some people suffer from Sun Deficiency Syndrome (also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD). Lack of exposure to sunshine can lead to achy bones, depression and obesity. Lack of exposure to God’s glory can lead to harmful symptoms too:
- Sadness
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Panic attacks
- Conflict
- Frustration
- Isolation
When a Christian’s life takes on these symptoms, like a boat taking on water, there is something wrong. We could call it Son Deficiency Syndrome. Lack of exposure to God’s glory in Jesus causes us to spiritually shrivel. So my closing charge to you dear reader is: Go outside, go to the Son, go to the gospel, go to the Bible, and may the Father of glory give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:17-19).
