We Have Beheld His Glory

We Have Beheld His Glory John 1.14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us and we have beheld His glory the glory of the One and Only Who has come from the Father full of grace and truth. we have beheld His glory… For these eyewitnesses it was amazing. Jesus told Martha, just before He raised her brother, Lazarus, from being dead for four days in the tomb, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11.40 This portion of the 14th verse of John 1, “we have beheld His glory…” is the personal testimony of John on behalf of the all Twelve. They saw the glory of God on a great number of occasions, regularly, daily, moment by moment What does that mean? * His Glory Splendor, brightness, Excellence, Majesty John 2. 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. What did He do there? His first miracle… only the servants and His disciples, six in number, saw it and witnessed it. He did it for the wedding guests, to meet the need of the couple. He did it for His disciples so they would believe in Him. Remember Him saying to them, on their way to the Garden, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves” John 14.11 To run out of wine at a wedding feast was a disgrace. This is what this wedding would have been remembered for. This couple would never have lived it down. They would have the embarrassment with them for as long as they lived. He turned the water, six water jugs full, each containing between 20-30 gallons or approximately 150 gallons in total, into wine! It was like they had 600 bottles of the best wine ever! What a wedding gift! This miracle, as all of them, revealed His glory… His splendor, His Majesty… interesting number… at this time 6 disciples, 6 water jugs… Feeding of the 5,000, 12 disciples, twelve basket fulls of leftovers. Another notable time when He showed them His glory that the Gospel writers tell us about and that Peter wrote about it. II Peter 1. 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain. The Mount of Transfiguration Eyewitnesses In the Great High Priestly Prayer Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven… John 17. 4 I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your Presence with the glory I had with You before the world began. Now He is taking us back to last week’s message… John 1.1-3 His glory revealed in all the miracles but these three: Water into Wine Mount Transfiguration Raising Lazarus from the dead And of course His Resurrection… John 20. 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” But was it just His miracles? Absolutely not. It was His words! Jesus said, “Heaven and Earth will pass away but My words will never pass away.” Then after the feeding of the 5000, many left Jesus. Let’s read about that. John 6.66 As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” You have the words of eternal life. He spoke Wonderful Words of Life. He taught with authority. He spoke the Words that cheered and blessed. * Beheld Viewed attentively Contemplated it Viewed it with admiration This was the privilege of the Twelve… it became their responsibility to witness to it, tell about it, write about it, so that people would believe. John 20.30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. We ought to take time to contemplate His Glory. Sit for a few minutes quietly. Think about what is going on in Heaven. Read Revelation 4. Hear the cry by the four living creatures“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.” Contemplate: That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. That He created everything. That He holds all things together. That Christ will soon appear. Consider: The lilies of the field The birds of the air All this is part of beholding His Glory. Look up at the sky. Isaiah 40:26-30 NLT Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of His great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. This is also beholding His glory. See the sunrise and the sunset. Take in the precision of changing seasons. * Think of the times when you have beheld His Glory. An answer to prayer A special moment where you knew it was Him A dream which He spoke to you in. When things seemed hopeless and He came through His peace in the midst of a storm * Christ in you, the Hope of Glory Colossians 1.27 Expectation of joy Confident of Eternal Salvation Splendor, Brightness, Majesty John 1.14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us and we have beheld His glory the glory of the One and Only who has come from the Father full of grace and truth.