Let God Speak #35: Hidden

John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Hidden

We love glory and honor. Who doesn’t, right? We invest in companies that will succeed. We want big houses. We hope for jobs with good incomes. If life isn’t going well, there must be a problem!

Many Christians imagine that’s how God works. We look for glory and grandeur. We want to be amazed, entertained, and wowed. “Set my heart racing, God! Let me see your glory!” Is that how God tells us he will work? No.

Look at Jesus. What do you see? He ate, drank, and cried, just like anyone else. He bled, suffered, and died, just like us. And now he’s gone. Tens of thousands of Christians are killed for their faith every year. People in all eras of history have ridiculed Christianity for its beliefs. I see Jesus and I see weakness and suffering.

Hidden. Hidden is the glory of God in the suffering and weakness of Jesus. Look again at Jesus. What do you see? Blood shed to take away our sin. An empty tomb to shatter the grave. The gift of forgiveness and eternal life. The glory of salvation.

In our lives, too, God’s glory is hidden. Suffering overwhelms us. Weakness engulfs us. But look! There stand the promises of Jesus, firm and secure: Forgiveness. New Life. Paradise. Glory hidden in weakness. Jesus. My King. My God. My Savior.