We will plunge into the NT (New Testament) this time to search again for glimpses of God’s amazing glory.

We find that his glory was three-fold when the angel answered Mary’s question—“How will this be since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34-35

This is one of those times when we hear of our triune God—The Holy Spirit, God our Heavenly Father-the Most High, and Son of God (meaning Jesus. Note the capital “S”). Three in one. God in spirit, God our creator, and God in human form.

Nine months later, when Bethlehem shepherds were taking turns at watch one night, they were suddenly dazzled by a brilliant light. Scripture says, . . . and the glory of the Lord shone around them. An angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born unto you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11. That is “Christ” which in Greek means “Messiah,” the promised one, the annointed one that they had anticipated for centuries.

All that brilliant light shining around this one angel certainly grabbed the attention of those startled shepherds. Can you imagine their awe when, Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

What double glory-filled announcements to these lowly shepherds!

Thirty years later, after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, a few men became Jesus’ disciples. At some point Jesus performed his first miracle in their sight. The wine had run out at a wedding so Jesus’ mother encouraged him to do his thing. Well, that’s not exactly how the Bible put it, but when Jesus turned the water into wine, John tells us, He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. John 2:11

No bright light this time, but the new disciples saw the evidence of the “annointed one” as this miracle “revealed his glory.” Result? They put their faith in him.

Again in John’s gospel, we see God’s glory bringing light. John gives us several “I am” teachings of Jesus. In one of these, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

One of the most dramatic occasions when we visually see the glory of Jesus was when he took the favored three, (Peter, James, and John) up a mountain to pray one day. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Luke 9:29. Moses and Elijah also joined in that miracle moment.

Of course, when we turn to the book of Revelation, we find numerous references to this Shekinah glory of God and the glory of the Lamb, Jesus. When John, the apostle, became an old man and was sent to the Isle of Patmos, God gave him a vision of end times. Toward the end of this very complicated account, John gives us a detailed look at the New Jerusalem, our heavenly home, with its glorious views.

John reports, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:22-23

Indeed, one day, if our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we will bask in the glory of our mighty God in the New Jerusalem of heaven. May thoughts of our Triune God bring added light to your Christmas celebration.

~ Joyce ~