Friday, January 16, 2009
Luke 17:24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.
IN SHINING GLORY
Jesus revealed to the world that He is the almighty Savior of mankind by performing miraculous cures, by manifesting His power over forces of nature, by proving His mastery over death, and by preaching with unmatched authority. Question: Why, then, did the majority not see anything special in Him? (Why do most people living in our modern times turn aside from Him in unbelief?) Answer: Jesus' outward appearance was no different than any other Jewish man of His time. He didn't possess any special beauty that would attract people to Him. In fact, He deliberately chose to lay aside the full use of His divine majesty so that He might serve us in lowliness and die on the cross as our sin-bearing Substitute. (The people of the world will ever consider the message of Jesus Christ crucified as nonsense.)
But Jesus' state of lowliness didn't last. After completing His work as our humble Servant-Savior, He again took up the full use of His divine prerogatives. He descended into hell, rose from the grave, and forty days later ascended to God's right hand (the position of supreme authority that enables Him to control all events in the world for the good of His own).
The Day comes when all will see Him as He is in the fullness of His divine majesty. Everyone will say: "There's no doubt about it, Jesus. You are my Lord and King." For unbelievers this epiphany of Jesus will be a source of bitter sorrow and terror unimaginable (for they will be cast out and lost forever in hell). But for believers who have anchored their hopes in Him it will be a day of sheer joy and unbridled happiness, our heavenly home-coming Day.
Sun and moon shall darkened be, Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine, All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear, All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed, God in man made manifest.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 134:4)
