What is the glory of God? Dr. Daniel Hames explains.
Transcription
What is the glory of God? When we think about glory from a human perspective, perhaps we imagine a sports star who has scored the points that win the game, and they’ve been lifted up on the shoulders of their teammates and they’re soaking up the praise the adoration. It’s about taking and receiving. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus, the Son of God, is the radiance of God’s glory. Jesus, the glory of God is about radiant shining. God going out, communicating, giving. And we see that in Jesus’ life: his compassion, his love, his kindness. Yes, God has great power and majesty, but his glory, seen in Jesus, is that he uses his power and his majesty to bless, to heal, and to save us.
When we think about glory from a human point of view, and we project that onto God, we are likely to be discouraged. But when we see the glory of God defined by Jesus, we go especially to the cross, where Jesus the glory of God shines out and gives us himself—laying down his life.
The picture of radiance and Hebrews 1:3 should set us thinking about the sun in the sky. When we see the radiance of the sun, we meet warmth, and light, and life. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. A God who does not need to take from us, but loves to give and give himself.
Learn more about the glory of God from Daniel Hames in his most recent publication
God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church.
You can also take a course with him at Union School of Theology, where he lectures in systematic and historical theology.
