Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Object of This Spiritual Discernment – Continued
Afterwards, then Jesus set His face steadfastly toward Jerusalem where He knew He would suffer. Yes, even while in His humiliation He was glorious. His disciples beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father full of grace and truth (John 1:14). But Paul thinks here of that glory which should follow, that glory which should follow upon his suffering. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26). He that said, “Yet I do not seek my own glory” (John 8:50) was raised up in glory by the Father whose glory was the only glory He sought. “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father” (Romans 6:4). To Him was given a name which is above every name. To Him were given all the kingdoms of the earth which Satan had promised Him if He refused to suffer.
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!” (Psalm 24:7-8). Who is the King of glory? He who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord!
It is Christ, now risen, now ascended, now seated at the right hand of the Father whom the Apostle saw. It was Him that he rejoiced to see, together with his fellow believers. Together they see Him; together they see Him constantly. Together they see Him clearly. However, doesn’t Paul speak of seeing in a mirror dimly? To be sure, he does. But in that passage of 1 Corinthians 13:12 he compares what we see now with what we shall see in the future. “We are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared” (1 John 3:2). In our text, however, Paul compares what we see now with what the Old Testament believers saw. The mirror is here used as a symbol of clarity.
That mirror is no doubt the gospel which Paul says he has spoken so plainly. That gospel now laid down in the Scriptures is the mirror in which we may see the glory of the Lord. In that mirror we all may see. In that mirror alone can we see the glory of the Lord. It is indispensable and absolutely necessary. In that mirror we see the original and only picture of the glory of the Lord; the Scripture is sufficient and authoritative. Yet it is the risen Christ in the Scriptures that we see.
How the apostle rejoices in the vision of the glory of the Lord. How he delights to show unto the congregation more and more of that glory of the Lord. That glory of the Lord is inexhaustible. He turns the mirror in a certain direction and they turn it another; he wishes them to see every aspect of that glory. When through the lust of the eyes they turn to look to the right or to the left he calls them back to look at the glory of the Lord. When through the weariness of the flesh they grow faint he stirs them up to look at the glory of the Lord. How he pleads with those who would mar the mirror and obscure the vision of the people of God. He pleads with them not to bring men back to the darkness of Plato’s cave. He pleads with them to let those Christ has set free to be free indeed, to be free that they may see, that they may see the glory of the Lord. But if they would obstruct or obscure the vision of the glory of the Lord he does not back down but rather stands for the truth. God’s people, Paul is determined, will see the glory of the Lord.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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