Understanding the Glory of Jesus: More Than Just a Good Teacher

In Mark 9, we encounter a profound moment where Jesus reveals His true glory to three of His disciples – Peter, James, and John. This event, known as the Mount of Transfiguration, gives us deep insights into who Jesus really is and how we should respond to His glory.

What Does It Mean That Jesus Is Glory?

Jesus doesn’t just possess glory – He is glory itself. This wasn’t a moment where Jesus gained something new; rather, it was a revelation of who He had always been. His appearance was transformed, becoming dazzlingly white, brighter than any earthly bleach could achieve. This wasn’t a change in Jesus’ nature, but rather a peek behind the curtain of His humanity to see His divine nature.

Why Do We Often Misunderstand Jesus’ Glory?

Many of us, like the disciples, only recognize Jesus’ glory when He does something for us:

When He answers our prayersWhen He provides healingWhen He helps us financiallyWhen life gets easier

However, Jesus’ glory isn’t dependent on His actions toward us. He is inherently glorious because of who He is, not what He does.

What Prevents Us from Seeing Jesus’ True Glory?

Peter’s response to the transfiguration reveals common barriers we face:

Trying to add to God’s glory through our activitiesValuing other things above JesusBeing more impressed by religious figures than Jesus HimselfAdmiring Jesus without truly following Him

How Should We Respond to Jesus’ Glory?

God’s voice from the cloud gives us clear direction: “This is my dearly loved son. Listen to him.” True recognition of Jesus’ glory should lead to:

Obedience rather than just admirationSurrender rather than just appreciationFollowing rather than just observingAction rather than just emotion

Life Application

This week, consider these questions:

Am I giving God glory only when He does something for me, or do I recognize His inherent glory?What activities or distractions keep me from truly experiencing Jesus’ presence?How can I move from merely admiring Jesus to actually following Him?

Challenge: Take time each day this week to simply be in God’s presence without trying to “do” anything. Focus on who He is rather than what He can do for you. Then, identify one specific way you can demonstrate obedience to what He’s already shown you.

Remember: Jesus reveals His glory not to gain our amazement, but to invite our allegiance. He doesn’t need our activity – He wants our devotion.