Sat, Aug 25th - 10:42AM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

"And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said to the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)" "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS (John 19:19)."

   In these particular verses we see evidence of Pontius Pilate's opinion that this man was King of the Jews.  He met the requirements of the prophecies concerning the Messiah and thus could be called their King.  Pilate clearly comprehended the implication of Christ's words in verse 17, as did the chief priests out in the crowd of people.  "We have no King but Caesar." Utter rejection of any Messiah was in their hearts.  The priests chose Caesar over God, even though they would vehemently argue otherwise. 

   The chief priests took exception to what Pilate wrote upon the cross of Christ.  They wanted it to be changed but Pilate stone-walled them by telling them that it would not be changed at their request.  They had pushed him into crucifying an innocent man, he would not be pushed any further on this matter. Pilate went so far as to have this title written in three languages so that everyone would be able to read and understand who Jesus was.  It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.  Do you think that Pilate got the last word in at the expense of the chief priests?  They didn't want more people to think that Jesus was King of kings and the Messiah, but here was the Governor putting this announcement up high where everyone passing by could read it.  I say, Well done Pilate, well done!

"Whom Jason has received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus (Acts 17:7)."

   These were the Jews who refused to believe what Paul attested to in Thessalonica. Paul had spent three sabbaths reasoning with the rabbis within the synagogue found in that city.  Paul utilized the scriptures in his reasoning and as a result some of them believed in Christ while a very large number of devout Greeks also chose to believe.  But the unbelieving Jews sought to detain Paul and Silas but could not find them.  So they dragged Jason and a few other believers before the city leaders and accused them of harboring treasonous individuals within their home. 

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen (I Timothy 1:17)."

   Here the apostle Paul attests to Christ being the King of kings.  He is not referring to the Emperor of the Roman Empire who was not immortal nor invisible. To our King we are to give all honor and glory, and to no one else.  Paul goes on to encourage believers to maintain a clean heart before God, to protect their heart above all else. 

"Which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords(I Timothy 6:15);"

   It is seen here that Christ most certainly is considered to be higher than high, to be above all other rulers, and to be blessed.  I would suggest that the remaining verses of this particular chapter be read and considered. Verse seventeen reminds all of us that God is not against any of us having prosperity, just that we clearly understand not to place our complete trust in that wealth but to place our trust in God. If the wealthy were to always be ready to do good works and to donate their time, their money, and their abilities, then this world would be a better place in which to live.  Paul warned Timothy to avoid profanity, vanity, and useless babblings.  He warned him to beware the snares of opposition of that knowledge which is science falsely called as such.  I believe that evolutionary theory falls into this category of false science.  Global warming being caused by humanity may very well fall within this category as well.  False science does not rigorously adhere to the scientific methodology utilized in the past to validate/invalidate theories.  False science simply goes out and finds data that can be used to support a specific theory, without any further supporting evidence either for or against.  In this fashion two people can study the exact same data base and reach two distinctly different conclusions.  Christians today must remain alert to the pitfalls of accepting false science's claims, for doing so leads to erroneous faith. 

   That is all for today, beloved.  Grace and peace be with you all!

~Eric

Tue, Aug 21st - 3:07PM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

   Looking into Luke chapter four it can be seen that Jesus was the Prophet.  Verse one informs us that He was full of the Holy Spirit, and that that same Holy Spirit led Him out into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days. Verses fifteen an sixteen show that He went and taught in the synagogues.  Verse eighteen tells us that He read from the Book of Isaiah and claimed that God had sent Him to preach the gospel, to heal the broken-hearted, deliver those held captive by sin, and to set free those who have been harmed. 

   Going to Nazareth Jesus informed the people there that as a prophet He was not accepted by them. Jesus also informed them that He had been sent by God to preach the “acceptable year of the Lord.”  If we do a comparison, we see that Jesus stopped at this point in quoting Isaiah 61 which connects with the first advent and the dispensation of grace instituted by Christ. “The day of vengeance of our God” belongs to the second advent and consequent judgment of mankind.

   Luke 5:3 shows us that He continued to teach the people from a ship due to the incredible size of the crowd gathered to listen to Him. Jesus in verse 17 was teaching at Peter’s home (most likely) and there were gathered Pharisees and doctors of the law from all around that area.  And as we can learn from in the gospel of Mark, four men manage to lower an acquaintance of theirs down through the roof so that he can be healed by Christ.  Their faith was great.  And of course, verse 32 repeats what is said in Mark’s gospel about how Christ came to recover the sinners, not the righteous. 

   Checking chapter nineteen and verses 41-44 we can see that Christ was issuing a prophecy concerning the future of Jerusalem.  He was distraught over the obstinacy of its people, over their utter rejection of God, and their infatuation with idol worship.

   Chapter 22:34 of Luke informs us that Christ prophesied Peter’s denial of God. Then, we come to Luke 23:2. Here we find Jesus responding to a blunt question put to Him about whether or not He was the King of the Jews.  Jesus merely said that Pilate was the one saying it, not Jesus.  Jesus did not deny it, simply did not waste time repeating it. 

   As Jesus was walking through the streets of Jerusalem out to Golgotha to be crucified, He turned to the lamenting women who followed Him and told them to not weep for Him.  They should be weeping for themselves and for their children. He referred to the coming times when judgment would come upon them, when they all would cry out for the mountains to fall upon them and cover them up from the wrath of God.

   Looking into the Book of John, it is found that he recorded more of the dialogue between Pilate and Jesus than did Luke.  Chapter 18:33-37 provides us with much information that is crucial to being a believer in Jesus.  Pilate wanted to know if Jesus thought that He was a king.  Jesus told him that His kingdom was not an earthly one at that point in time.  If it was, then His disciples would fight against the wicked.  Since it was not of this world, and still is not of this world, disciples of Jesus Christ do not physically fight with unbelievers.  This is a point that the Catholic Church failed to keep firmly in mind over the centuries.  If they had, there would not have been the Inquisition, the witch trials, and the Crusades.  The Vatican would not have become involved in politics of city-states, empires, and of nations. Christ’s kingdom comes when He returns a second time to this earth of ours.  At that time His disciples may very well join in the battle that ensues for things will have substantially changed.  Christ also confirmed that He was a king.  He was “born” for this purpose and came into the world of mankind for this cause of witnessing to the truth. Those people who simply don’t hear God’s Word accurately, and can’t understand what it talks about, are those who have turned away from God in their hearts and their minds.  They have become so immersed in their personal sin that they can’t hear God calling out to them to repent and return to Him. 

   That is all for today, beloved.  There are many other verses that can be looked at that ripple out from these points of study, but they are for you to read and ponder at your leisure.  Next time I shall continue on in the Book of John looking at evidence of Jesus Christ as being Prophet, Priest, and King.  Grace and peace be yours this day.

~Eric

Mon, Aug 20th - 6:53AM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

" Behold upon the mountains the feet of Him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows: for the wicked shall pass through you no more; he is utterly cut off (Nahum 1:15)."

   We see here reference being made to the future evangelist, Jesus Christ.  Not only that, but reference is made to beyond the first coming of Jesus, to that time when He rules upon this earth and the wicked shall no longer do whatever they desire to do. 

"Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him(Matthew 2:2)."

   Now we see reference made to Jesus being the King.  These were the wise men from the lands to the east of Jerusalem, having traveled long distance to come, find Him, and give Him worship and praise.  "The King" is one of the divine titles (Psalm 10:16), and is used in the worship of the Church (I Timothy 1:17), but Jesus Christ is never called "King of the Church." He is "King of the Jews" and Lord and "Head of the Church" (Ephesians 1:22-23).

   Reading the next few verses we discover that king Herod became rather troubled by this news.  He felt threatened.  So he consulted the priests of the Temple and the scribes.  I wish to look at these "scribes" so that we can clearly understand what their function actually was.  The word comes from the Greek grammateis, "writer", and the Hebrew sopherim, "to write, set in order, count." These men were called this because it was their official job to make copies of the Scriptures; to classify and teach the precepts of the oral law and to keep careful count of every letter in the OT writings.  This position was necessary in a religion of law and precept, and was an Old Testament function. To this legitimate work the scribes added a record of rabbinical decisions on questions of ritual (Halachoth); the new code resulting from those decisions (Mishna); the Hebrew sacred legends (Gemara, forming with the Mishna the Talmud); and finally, mystical interpretations which found in Scripture meanings other than the grammatical, lexical, and obvious ones (the Kabbala); not unlike the allegorical method of Origin, or the modern Protestant "spiritualizing" interpretation. In our Lord's time, to receive this mass of writing superposed upon the Scriptures was to be orthodoxy; to return to the Scriptures themselves alone was heterodoxy---Jesus Christ's most serious offense in their eyes.  So the scribes had a legitimate function which they had used to end up adding man-made concepts to what God given scriptures they had received.  What had resulted was that the man-made decisions had become more binding than what God had commanded of them.

   There is danger in becoming too legalistic, too rigid, in our religion.  This leads to us drawing up lists of do's and don'ts.  It also leads to the belief that we can, indeed, earn our way into heaven by accumulating enough "points" through the performance of "do's."  There is also the danger of becoming too spiritualized.  This leads us into ever more liberal interpretations of God's Word, taking ever increasing interpretational license in what we read in it.  We become lost in the mystical, we redefine what God has actually said into something utterly different.  We can also surrender ourselves to searching out interpretations that suit our lifestyles, allowing us to not have to repent of anything, to believe that God loves us and all of our conduct.  And we can deceive ourselves into thinking that we are actually doing "God's work."  Saul of Tarsus thought that way at one point in his life, until he was confronted by Christ upon the road to Damascus.  Then he realized how wrong he had been in his thinking.  He repented and changed his mind about what God had said, and meant, in the Scriptures.  He no longer placed more importance upon the rabbinical decisions than upon God's actual Word. 

   I pray that none of you continue to place more emphasis upon the words of commentators than upon God's Word.  Read it and understand it on its own merit, comparing it by itself.  All interpretation of Scripture must remain consistent with the remainder of the Bible.  If it is not in agreement, then it is a faulty interpretation that needs to be cast aside.  May you all walk in the light of Christ today, and always.  Grace and peace be with you all.

~Eric

Sat, Aug 18th - 5:23PM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

"The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from in the midst of you, of your brethren, like to me; to Him you shall listen;"  "And the LORD said to me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise up for them a Prophet from among them, like you, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not listen to My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him (Deuteronomy 18:15, 17-19)."

   As we begin to study about Christ as being the Prophet, we must go back to the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy.  It is here that Jesus as the Messiah is prophesied, it is here that we have to begin our study in order to comprehend some of the confusion that existed at the time of Jesus' ministry in Galilee.  God's future prophet was to be someone akin to Moses.  Moses had become a prophet through dire circumstances and had been forced to flee out into the desert wilderness from Egypt for many years.  After being chosen by God to be His prophet that would ultimately free His people Israel from slavery in Egypt, Moses was not someone of immense star power.  He did not possess the personal conviction to believe that he could possibly convince the Pharaoh to release the people from bondage.  But he did what God asked of him, and the people were freed from bondage to Pharaoh.

   In these verses in Deuteronomy we can see that the Messiah was to come from out of Israel's midst.  This is all consistent with what Jesus claimed, that He only did that which He was told by the Father in heaven.  He only spoke those words given to Him by the Father.  This is exactly what Moses did in order to free his people from Egyptian bondage, speak what God had said to him.  God did the rest.  Christ came to share with all of mankind exactly what God the Father said to Him.  He modeled perfect obedience so that we too could become obedient to God.  John 1:21-45 refers back to this very passage.  John the Baptist was quizzed about whether or not he was this Prophet that had been prophesied about by their prophets.  Here are more passages that sprout from out of this one in the OT: John 7:16;8:28; 12:49-50; 14:10,24; 17:8; Acts 3:22-23; 7:37.   Looking at the last reference we can see some interesting things: "This is that Moses, which said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like to me; Him shall you hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give to us: To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again to Egypt (Acts 7:37-39)."  Israel in the land promised to them is never called a church.  In the wilderness Israel was a true church (Greek ecclesia = called-out assembly), but it was still in striking contrast with the NT ecclesia as found in Matthew 16:18. Reading this entire section of Acts while keeping Deuteronomy 18 in mind forces us to consider our own position today in relation to Christ.   Are we truly following Him?  Or are we turning back to the world's ways of doing things?  Will Christ force us to meander out in a "desert" for an extended period of time in order to purge our sins from us?  Or will we willing choose to repent of our sins and turn back to God?  Time can only tell. 

   In looking into the Book of Isaiah we find four chapters that concern this topic.  Chapter 49 speaks about the Messiah, in fact, it is He who does the talking in the verses.  The fact that He speaks of being called from the depths of His human mother's womb does not imply that He was just a man.  This speaks to the fact that God came manifested in human flesh.  This is the specific person who was to arise from out of the midst of Israel.  Up until the NT times God had skillfully kept Christ hidden from the view of mankind.  Evidences were available to man to come to understand that God was going to do a mighty redemptive work at some point in the future, but man would be forced to work determinedly in order to achieve that understanding.  Verse seven of the 49th chapter reveals to the reader this mighty work which would occur in the distant future.  "Redeemer of Israel" derives from the Hebrew goel which means a kinsman redeemer type.  It strikes me as odd that man would fail to remember the importance of these words in the future.  But then again, we suffer through this sort of "forgetfulness" today in America regarding our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.  Chapter 50 reveals that the Redeemer would be humilated by the unbelievers, both Jewish and Gentile. Chapter 51 reveals that at some point in the future Israel is still to be redeemed.  Some argue that they will not have to accept Jesus as their Messiah.  I say that is untrue.  God has been extremely clear on that point.  His salvation has gone out, we all are to lift our eyes up to the heavens and behold our salvation.  Verse 11 states that the redeemed of the Lord shall return to Jerusalem with singing.  Other verses remind Israel that they have been favored in God's eyes in the past.  They are to awaken, to see the truth standing before them, to accept the truth about Christ.  Chapter 52 reveals a vision of Jerusalem in the kingdom-age.  Verse 8 tells us that watchmen shall shout with joy at seeing New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. We also see the reference being made to how brutalized Jesus would be at the hands of the Roman soldiers who tortured Him before being crucified.  We could then continue on into the 53rd chapter and read on about the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, the Servant.  I will only point out the very first verse, "Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" Did not Christ point out to the religious rulers that they refused to believe the report of Jesus and His disciples?  Even though those same rulers had access to these OT scriptures, they did not believe. 

   That is all for today, beloved.  May you experience the grace and peace of Christ our Lord this day!  Enjoy the refreshing weather that sweeps across the eastern United States at this time!  Give thanks to God for bringing it along at this point in time.

~Eric

Fri, Aug 10th - 7:09PM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

"And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)."

   We find here in the last book of the Bible reference to Christ being the One who has this name written upon His very person.  It signifies that there is no one, and nothing, that stands above Him in all of the universe.  The government of the United States of America does not stand above Christ.  The government of China does not stand above Christ.  The United Nations does not stand above Christ.  We can trace this designation of Christ's to the seventeenth chapter of Revelation: "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful (17:14)."  Unbelievers who in the future shall surrender their free-will to the Anitchrist will fight against Christ with the purpose of one mind.  But Christ will prevail against them for no one is stronger than He, nor one has more authority than He.  I would draw your attention to that last phrase at the end of this verse.  "They that are with Him" does not refer to angels.  This speaks of those people who have been called by God to leave the "rat race" of mankind, and to come and follow Christ Jesus instead. They have been called, chosen; "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied (I Peter 1:2)." Election of the saints is not something to be earned by tallying up sufficient points.  It comes through God choosing those whom He knows will accept Him as their Savior.  Since God appears to view time as something that occurs all at the same time for Him, He takes what He knows of future choices and sets certain people apart, so that they may fulfill their future choices to love Him with all of their heart, soul, and mind.  We also learn here that sanctification happens for them through the work of the Holy Spirit which then leads them to be obedient upon receiving the blood of Jesus Christ in payment of their sins.  This concept of election, of being chosen by God to be a special people is not unique to the New Testament. "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6)." Yes, this speaks about the Hebrews as God's Chosen People, but it only demonstrates that God does choose people to separate themselves from the rest of humanity in order to become something special.  This is not to remotely suggest that believers in Christ are to think highly of themselves and to become snobbish in relation to other people.  Being chosen by God to become separate from the rest of humanity always comes with costs, and rewards.  The cost can be as simple as losing your current friends, or as large as becoming a missionary in a foreign land with no friends around you with a hostile government seeking to arrest you at every turn.  Rewards: eternal life, forgiveness, the touch of God in your heart, fellowship with a world-wide family of other believers, and the endless blessings of the Creator of our universe as you actively seek to lead others into the presence of Christ Jesus.  "Which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (I Timothy 6:15)."  Here we find another reference to Christ as being the King of kings and the Lord of lords. In the coming kingdom of heaven on earth there can only be one King, one Potentate: Jesus Christ. All earthly rulers shall bow their knee and their head in recognition of God's authority to sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and govern the entire world from there.  They won't all agree that He deserves to do so, they simply won't be able to resist the demand to pay homage to Christ.

   That is all that I have for this designation of Jesus Christ.  Next up is to look into Him as "Prophet, Priest, and King."  Hope you come on back tomorrow to discover what that is all about!  Grace and peace be yours this day!

~Eric

Wed, Aug 8th - 7:05PM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

  "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Corinthians 2:7-8)."

   Here we find that Jesus Christ is identified as the "Lord of glory."  Human wisdom is of no practical use in revealing who Christ Jesus is.  It was of no use when He walked this earth previously, as had human wisdom been able to reveal Him as the the Lord of glory to men then He would not have been crucified.  Human wisdom merely misleads people into making erroneous assumptions about Jesus and God.  Now, we might grumble about not being able to know God's wisdom since it says here that it is a mystery, that it is hidden wisdom.  But how hidden has it actually been?  The mystery is explained in verses further along in this part of the Bible. "But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, except by the spirit of that man which is inside of him? even so the things of God no man can know, except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (I Corinthians 2:10-12)." It is clearly shown that no one can possibly figure out what God is all about by using their own wisdom.  Christians who do not talk in the manner of the world-at-large remain incomprehensible to the unbelievers for the unbelievers try to comprehend what has been said using their own wisdom.  They remain spiritually blind if they resort to these measures.  The only way to comprehend God is to gain His Holy Spirit, to have it with you so that you can hear what He says to you.  Christians who have repented of their sin and have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior receive God's Spirit and since the Spirit knows all things they have access to learn all of those things.  Verse thirteen in I Corinthians 2 clearly teaches that the Bible can't be understood by applying man's wisdom to it.  That simply leads one to conclude that the Bible is a collection of novels, histories, poems, songs, and parables written by some 66 different people.  But plugging into the Holy Spirit allows the believer to compare spiritual things with spiritual things within the Bible and to then gain knowledge and greater wisdom.  The Holy Spirit of God will reveal truth as it is contained within what is written in the Bible. 

   Verse nine reveals that the natural man (unbeliever) can't discover the unseen things of God.  The revealed things are communicated only through Spirit-taught words. This does not imply that the authors of the Scriptures were victims of mechanical dictation from God nor experienced the subservience of their personality. What is implied is that the Spirit infallibly guides the choice of words from the writer's own vocabulary.  Verses 15-16 then proceed to teach us that these Spirit-taught words in which revelation has been expressed are discerned only by the spiritual among believers.  The word's true spiritual content is strictly revealed to only those who have the "mind of Christ."  In other words, if you refuse to become born-again, to receive the Holy Spirit within you, you are forever locked out from understanding what the Bible is teaching about reality.

"My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons (James 2:1)."  James speaks of "the Glory" in the sense of taking the place of the shekinah glory of the Old Testament.  "With respect of persons" refers to giving place to titles, positions, status, wealth, fame, genealogy, etc..  When compared to the Lord of glory all of these things lose their distinctions and disappear in the sight of believers.  I treat the rich the same as the poor, the imprisoned the same as the free-man, women as to men, adults as to children, and liberals the same as conservatives.  No one receives preference over any other.  I do not chase after the wealthy to convert them any more than I would the poor.  Everyone is treated equally.  "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3);" highlights the point that Christ is the shekinah glory of old, that He is the expression of God's substance and through His omnipotence keeps all created things in their appointed places within creation.  The only "person" I choose to pursue whole-heartedly is Jesus Christ.  I desire to learn all that I can possibly learn about Him. I desire to know all that I can about what He wants me to do for Him, and for others.  I choose to love Christ with all of my heart, my mind, and my soul.  I choose to seek living peacefully with all people, if at all possible.

   That is all for this night, beloved.  Next time I shall look at Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  May you experience the grace and peace of Christ Jesus our Lord today, and always.

~Eric

Fri, Aug 3rd - 7:34PM

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Corinthians 2:7-8)."

   Christ Jesus was the Lord of glory.  What in the world is glory? This word is used of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation; essentially what He is and does as exhibited in whatever way He reveals Himself in these respects, and particularly in the Person of Christ.  In Christ God's glory has ever shown forth and ever will do so.  "And now, O Father, glorify Me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was (John 17:5)." "Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me: for You loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24)." "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3;" We can then deduce that Christ is the brightness of God's glory and is the express image of God's Person, able to sustain all things that are created simply by the word of His power.  We should then ponder where in the Old Testament this "brightness" and "glory of God" can be discovered, it it is to be found there at all. 

   Glory was exhibited in the character and acts of Christ in the days of His human flesh.  "And the Word was made flesh, and lived among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth (John 1:14)." "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him (John 2:11)." At Cana both His grace and His power were manifested, and these constituted His glory; so also in the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:4, 40.  The glory of God was was exhibited in the resurrection of Christ Jesus, and in His ascension and exaltation (I Peter 1:17). "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things (Romans 1:23)." His everlasting power and Divinity are spoken of as His glory, ie His attributes and power as revealed through creation.  In Romans 3:23 the word denotes the manifested perfection of His character, especially His righteousness, of which all mankind falls short; in Colossians 1:11 the might of His glory signifies the might which is characteristic of His glory; in Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14 the praise of the glory of His grace and the praise of His glory signify the due acknowledgement of the exhibition of His attributes and ways.  In Ephesians 1:17, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:" the Father of glory describes Him as the source from whom all Divine splendor and perfection proceed in their manifestation, and to whom they rightfully belong.  Christ is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.  Christ is uncorruptible. Christ is the Glory of God personified.  He allowed it to manifest while upon the Mount of Transmutation. 

   That is all for today my friends.  See you all again tomorrow! Grace and peace cover all of your footsteps through life!

~Eric