June 1: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S GLORY

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:29b-31

The Creator is the source of all life. Jesus is described by His disciple John as the Word of God (Revelation 19:13; see also John 1:1). A word is a thought made audible. Jesus is God’s thought made audible. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus is the revelation of God Himself. He is the image of the invisible God… [and] by Him all things were created (Colossians 1:15,16,17). He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast (Psalm 33:9).

To have such power—for an idea to become reality simply by speaking a word—is too great for us to comprehend or imagine. But even harder to grasp is the humility of One who came to dwell with us, to be God with us! …the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Creation itself is a revelation of God (Romans 1:20), but in these last days [God has] spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (Hebrews 1:2).

“Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which angels desire to look (1 Peter 1:12), and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which seeketh not her own (1 Corinthians 13:5) has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto (1 Timothy 6:16).” DESIRE OF AGES by EGW (pp.19,20)

In the Bible, names always mean something. God’s name is His character. Jesus came into our world to—once and for all—correct misunderstandings about the character of His Father. He continues to reveal God’s character: in the written word! Jesus closes His high priestly prayer with these words:

“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26