During the earthly sojourn of Christ, we think of His glorification in relation to certain occasions when the voice of the heavenly Father was heard testifying in His Son’s behalf.

One such example is at Christ’s baptism at the beginning of His ministry, when He “pleads with the Father for power to overcome [the] unbelief [of men and women], to break the fetters with which Satan has enthralled them, and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer. He asks for the witness that God accepts humanity in the person of His Son.

“Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light - fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One.

“Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17).

“These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission.”1

Another example of the glorification of Christ is found when certain Greeks came to see Him toward the close of His earthly ministry. We read:

“The hour of Christ’s glorification had come. He was standing in the shadow of the cross, and the inquiry of the Greeks showed Him that the sacrifice He was about to make would bring many sons and daughters to God. . . . By making this propitiation for the sins of men, Christ knew that His kingdom would be perfected, and would extend throughout the world. He would work as the Restorer, and His Spirit would prevail. For a moment He looked into futurity, and heard the voices proclaiming in all parts of the earth, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). In these strangers He saw the pledge of a great harvest, when the partition wall between Jew and Gentile should be broken down, and all nations, tongues, and peoples should hear the message of salvation. The anticipation of this, the consummation of His hopes, is expressed in the words, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified’ (John 12:23). But the way in which this glorification must take place was never absent from Christ’s mind. The gathering in of the Gentiles was to follow His approaching death. Only by His death could the world be saved. Like a grain of wheat, the Son of man must be cast into the ground and die, and be buried out of sight; but He was to live again.” 2

At that moment Jesus and the Father immediately answered His request. What was the petition of Jesus? What was the petition of Jesus? “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 12:28).

Jesus later prayed:

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

“All the favors [God] has shown to His Son in His acceptance of the great atonement are shown to His people. Those who have united their interests in love with Christ are accepted in the Beloved. They suffered with Christ in His deepest humiliation, and His glorification is of great interest to them, because they are accepted in Him. God loves them as He loves His Son. Christ, Emmanuel, stands between God and the believer, revealing the glory of God to His chosen ones, and covering their defects and transgressions with the garments of His own spotless righteousness.”3

At the sudden death of their father, four brothers were thrilled in their souls with deep emotion as they made a vow among themselves: By God’s grace, they were going to make manifest in their own consecrated lives, and by their dedication, to continue their Father’s interrupted ministry - to carry on what had been the true ideal and character of that godly man. The consecrated worker was taken; now - not one, but four younger workers would replace him and develop the work in the main branches, as their father foresaw it should be done. Had he lived to see the accomplishment of his sons, he would not have been disappointed.

Let us draw a parallel between the faithful dedication of those four sons and the work of Christ’s true followers.

At the end of His mission on earth, Jesus said in His intercessory prayer: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

And then Jesus added, “I have given them thy word. “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (verses 14, 18).

Would the followers of Jesus also glorify the Father’s name by faithfully carrying on the work of Jesus - the greatest and most important work ever entrusted to human beings? Yes, they would. And would the glory of God - through Jesus - also be reflected upon them? Yes, it would. Jesus said:

“The glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one” (verse 22).

What is the first evidence that the glory of God is being restored in Christ’s followers? Remember Galatians 2:20. Paul wrote: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

In His intercessory prayer to His Father, Jesus described the beautiful harmony: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. . . . And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (verses 23, 26).

Here is one more evidence pointing to the glory of God shining forth through Christ’s followers:

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:7, 8).

“In the night of spiritual darkness God’s glory is to shine forth through His church in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those that mourn.

“All around us are heard the wails of a world’s sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed. It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life’s hardships and misery.”4

“[Christ] says, Let your light shine. If you have received the grace of God, the light is in you. Remove the obstructions, and the Lord’s glory will be revealed. The light will shine forth to penetrate and dispel the darkness. . . .

“The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity will bring heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Saviour dwells.”5

If Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20), we cannot help beholding Him constantly through the eyes of our consciousness, as though we were seeing Him in the mirror. And, by contemplating Him, we are changed into His image. According to Paul, this is the experience of every genuine Christian.

“We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This is the work of the Spirit of the Lord in us. As He guides us into all truth (John 16:13) with our consent and cooperation, we are changed “from glory to glory” until the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in us and is shining forth through us into the darkness of the world.

Therefore, “we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12).

“ ‘If any man serve Me,’ said Jesus, ‘let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor’ (John 12:26). All who have borne with Jesus the cross of sacrifice will be sharers with Him of His glory. It was the joy of Christ in His humiliation and pain that His disciples should be glorified with Him. They are the fruit of His self-sacrifice. The outworking in them of His own character and spirit is His reward, and will be His joy throughout eternity. This joy they share with Him as the fruit of their labor and sacrifice is seen in other hearts and lives. They are workers together with Christ, and the Father will honor them as He honors His Son.”6

At the finishing of God’s work on earth, when the loud cry is given under the latter rain, God’s people will receive a special measure of the divine glory.

“As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble,’ they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His Spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel.”7

Immediately before the coming of Christ, God’s people will be blessed with a still greater measure of God’s glory. This will happen when God’s voice is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming.

“The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest thunder His words roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His glory.”8

“At the voice of God [the living righteous] were glorified.”9

“Satan and his angels, and wicked men, who had been exulting that the people of God were in their power, that they might destroy them from off the earth, witness the glory conferred upon those who have honored the holy law of God. They behold the faces of the righteous lighted up and reflecting the image of Jesus. Those who were so eager to destroy the saints cannot endure the glory resting upon the delivered ones, and they fall like dead men to the earth. Satan and evil angels flee from the presence of the saints glorified. Their power to annoy them is gone forever.”10

Finally, the greatest glory will be at the return of Christ:

“While the wicked flee from His presence, Christ’s followers will rejoice. The patriarch Job, looking down to the time of Christ’s second advent, said, ‘Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not a stranger’ (Job 19:27, margin). To His faithful followers Christ has been a daily companion and familiar friend. They have lived in close contact, in constant communion with God. Upon them the glory of the Lord has risen. In them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has been reflected. Now they rejoice in the undimmed rays of the brightness and glory of the King in His majesty. They are prepared for the communion of heaven; for they have heaven in their hearts.”11 Dear brethren and sisters, let us earnestly strive to be in that blessed company!