ÒAnd we beheld His Glory!Ó

(John 1:14)

 

Who are these favored people who have beheld the glory of him who is the only begotten of the Father?

 

They are a chosen people, GodÕs elect. The Lord Jesus said, ÒI know whom I have chosen.Ó He said, ÒYe have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.Ó He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but they who did receive him are described as people who were Òborn not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.Ó The elect in ChristÕs day, though they were but a small remnant, nevertheless did exist. There were but few who followed him; but there were a few who followed the Lamb whithersoever he went. The Òwe,Ó then, who beheld ChristÕs glory, were a chosen company. So it was then, and so it is now. Thank God for his electing love. Those who behold his glory are those who were chosen from eternity to behold his glory (Acts 13:48).And those who behold his glory here shall behold his glory forever in the world to come (John 17:24). Thank God for his electing love.

 

Those who behold ChristÕs glory are a graciously called people. We behold his glory because we have been specifically called by him to behold his glory. — ÒHe calleth unto him whom he wouldÓ (Mark 3:13). — ÒHe calleth his own sheep by nameÓ (John 10:3). It is written of those he delivers from going down to the pit, ÒHis life shall see the lightÓ (Job 33:28). ÒMany shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LordÓ (Psalm 40:3). — ÒThey shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our GodÓ (Isaiah 35:2). — ÒThe humble shall see this and be gladÓ (Psalms 69:32; Isaiah 25:9). The Son of God calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. If you and I behold ChristÕs glory, it is because he has called us to himself; and that call is the result of his election of us unto salvation.

 

These who behold his glory are also a divinely illuminated people. If others do not see what we see, and we are as blind as they by nature, our seeing his glory must be because of something he has done for us and in us, and not because of anything in us or done by us (2 Corinthians 4:6).

 

C. H. Spurgeon wrote, ÒNone of the princes of this world knew him. The priests who had studied the law could not discover him; the members of the Sanhedrim, who were under some expectation of his advent, could not perceive him. In vain the star in the east; in vain the miraculous appearance of angels to the shepherds; the blind generation would not perceive him. In vain the opening of blind eyes and the preaching of the gospel to the poor; in vain the raising of the dead; in vain all those innumerable signs and wonders; they could not perceive his glory; but of those who did perceive it it may be said, as of Simon Barjonas, ÔBlessed art thou, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee.ÕÓ

 

ÒBlessed are your eyes, for they see!Ó — None believe in Christ but those who are his sheep. No man comes unto him except the Father who sent him draws them, and none ever perceive him but those whose eyes are opened by his own healing fingers. Let the question be passed round among us. — Do I behold his glory? If so, beloved, it is because he chose me, he called me and he illuminates me by his grace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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