The Glory

of God

11 de octubre de 2014

Whenever we hear the phrase the glory of

God we tend to relate it with Ezekiels vision at the
banks of the Kebar River or the with John the Seers
vision in Revelation 4. Both of them describe a grand
and majestic throne and a being sitting in it which is
A redefinition
incapable of being perceived due to his
overwhelming power and greatness. We also relate it
with the fact that the one and only that should be
exalted, worshipped and praised is God himself, the
creator of the heavens and earth. This is how we define the glory of God.
Even though there is some grain of truth in how we have defined that
phrase, the phrase itself has a deeper and a more dynamic meaning and
implication, which was well understood by first century Christians. If we
want to have a small glimpse to the Judeo-Christian thought regarding the
glory of God we must go the Gospel of John.
In Johns first chapter, he talks about Gods glory as being perceivable with
our senses. In John 1:14 we read Now the Word became flesh and took up
residence among us. We saw his glorythe glory of the one and only, full of
grace and truth, who came from the Father. This glory and the one we
think we know should not be related, not because they are dierent kinds
or types of glory sharing some similarities here and there (like oil and
water, both being liquid, but very dierent in their composition), but
because they are the same, they just have a dierent phase (like water and
ice, both have the same H2O composition, but one has particles moving
and the other one does not).
So what really is the glory of God? Is it a throne, a purple robe, servants, a
crown? From our human 21st century perspective it could be just that (Mk.
10:42 You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord
it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.).
Nevertheless, Jesus spent three years trying to change that perspective from
their disciples, not only by teaching them what Gods glory is, but by
showing them. Once he was found talking with a woman, a samaritan. In
another instance he was eating in the house of the chief of tax collectors. He
was touched by a bleeding woman. He let kids come near him. He allowed a
prostitute to kiss and wash his feet. He touched lepers. Everyone was
astonished, shocked even scandalized by his actions. What was going on?
Jesus definition of Gods glory was and is dierent. True, God is king and he
sits in a throne and has servants, angels, ready to carry out his bidding. But
when a true king, a loving king decides to reveal his glory, his power to his
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people, he does it, not with violence or powerful deeds of strength, but with
compassion, mercy, justice, peace, truth, empathy, forgiveness and love.
Jesus was/is the embodiment of that king. He revealed Gods glory when he
directly involved himself with peoples sadness, suering, brokenness; by
caring for the sick, the poor, the broken; by understanding them
emotionally, physically, socially. He showed us that Gods true glory is
dynamic, it takes action, stands up against injustice, defends the oppressed,
feed the hungry, fights evil with love.
After Jesuss death and resurrection, John wrote We saw his glory. They
were witnesses of what the glory of God in action looks like, and better yet,
they now knew they could reveal it was well. They understood what being
light to the world and becoming great by serving meant. Now, they will
be the ones revealing Gods glory to the rest of the world. And they did.
This is the glory that not only people from the 1st century experienced, but
whomever received goodness, justice, peace, forgiveness and love from a
follower of Christ has seen the glory of God. Because Gods glory is revealed
through his followers whenever they decide to deal with the evil of the world
and bring comfort, justice, peace and love to the mourner, the suerer, the
meek and the oppressed.
When present followers decide to do the same, we show the world that the
glory of God is not static, that it doesnt belong in a distant future, but that
is real in the present, flowing (dynamically) through the hearts of those that
fight each day against injustice and oppression. Every time we do this, we
reveal Gods glory the same way that Christ didloving my neighbor as
myself, loving him/her until death.
Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
~ Isaiah 58:7-8
This is the glory of God.