The Mystery of God and the Hunt for Glory
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in their hearts, brought together in love, and full of the fullness of understanding so that they may know the mystery of God, Christ.” (Colossians 2:2)
We are made to revel in the mystery of God. That mystery is summed up in one person, Jesus of Nazareth. In this one man, heaven (the divine) joins itself with earth (humanity). Our greatest delight is walking in that mystery. Our attitude is best when we have the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:1-12).
But what is the attitude of Christ? Scripture reveals that He is God. He has True Glory. But he doesn’t cling to glory.
This concept of glory is worth exploring. People love glory. I believe we are made for glory (Romans 8:28-30). The problem is not that we are glory hounds. The problem is that we define glory wrongly. Hence we chase empty glory.
Christ walked away from true glory while we cling to and chase empty glory. It appears his attitude is very different from our own.
The Old Testament prophet Zechariah gives us some insight into the Mind of Christ. Zechariah does this by letting us see Christ before He even came as Jesus. In a night of visions, Zechariah see the Angel of the Lord. “Angel” just means “messenger.” And this particular messenger is Himself the message. He is the Word. Therefore He is a wonderful character to observe.
Even in his preincarnate state, the Word fulfills two roles beyond his essential nature as the I AM. He reveals the I AM to people and he intercedes for people before the I AM. In both roles he rarely (but not never) calls himself “I AM.” Zechariah 3 illustrates this dual role. Here Zechariah sees a vision involving three characters (plus a group group of angels who are watching):
- The messenger/Angel of I AM,
- Satan, and
- Joshua the High Priest of Israel in 520 B.C..
Note that the LORD/ I AM says to Satan, “the LORD/ I AM rebuke you.” (Zechariah 3:2) Yet it is the Angel of the LORD/I AM who is speaking. So, the angel of the LORD does not call himself the I AM, but Zechariah does. As does the Father in Hebrews 1:10-12. But the Angel/Word doesn’t call himself that except when pressed or cornered like in John 8:24, 28, and 58). He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Proverb, “Let another praise you and not your own mouth; someone else and not your own lips.”
The Word is eternally generated by the Father. Though that participation in the Father’s eternality rightly means the Word is in very nature “I AM,” it seems that his place as the generated rather than the generator brings with it a certain deference and “ego-lessness.” He is most Himself when he is revealing and interceding as mediator. Not when he is talking about himself. His glory/delight is in his emptying.
He delights in being emptied. We delight in being noticed. Therefore His glory is real. Ours is empty.
Word of the Father, help us be more like you.