CHRISTMAS, THE DAY THE GLORY RETURNED
Rev. M.D. Rogers
Text: Luke 2:1-16 NIV
We hear a lot these days about the glory of God. We talk about and sing about
giving glory to God, and about experiencing the glory of God, but do you realize
that there was a time when the glory of God was withdrawn from His people, and
that Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, is a celebration
of the return of the glory of God to His people? Let’s review what the Bible
says about God’s glory.
I) THE PURPOSE OF THE GLORY
After a period of four hundred years of living within Egypt, and after becoming
enslaved to the Egyptian Empire, the glory of God manifest to Moses on a
mountain in the bush that appeared to be on fire but was not consumed. As God
used Moses to lead His people to freedom, the glory was manifest in a pillar of
cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. On Mount Sinai the glory of God
was manifested in Moses’ sight as he conversed with God. Later the glory dwelt
in the Holy of Holies between the wingtips of the golden cherubim upon the Ark
of the Covenant. That place, atop the Ark and between the cherubim, was called
the Mercy Seat and there the fire of God, the kabowd, supernaturally burned. I
want you to remember, that it was called the Mercy Seat, not the Judgment Seat,
where the glory abode. It was God’s will for His glory to dwell in the midst of
His people. It was by God’s mercy that He was willing to allow His perfection
to find a place of residence among an imperfect people. As the prophet Jeremiah
so rightly observed:
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions
fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23, KJV)
In the Exodus to Canaan God gave specific instructions on how the Tabernacle was
to be constructed, as well as, all the instruments and furniture to be used in
worship. Furthermore, God gave specific instructions as to where each of the
tribes would be encamped whenever they stopped on their journey through the
desert. The location of the Tabernacle, in which the glory of God dwelt between
the wingtips of the cherubim, in the Holy of Holies, was in the midst of the
camp, in the middle of His people. God desires to dwell in the midst of His
people.
The purpose of the glory of God was to reveal His presence and to empower His
people. By being reminded of God’s presence, through the manifestation of His
glory, the people of God would walk in righteousness, and would place their
confidence in the power of God working on their behalf. Further, they would
refrain from honoring any other false gods, because God’s glory is not shared
with any other gods. In Isaiah God declares:
I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols (Isa 42:8, NIV).
God’s glory is not given to simply send a chill bump and result in some mere
emotional catharsis, God’s glory is to remind us that He is an ever present help in a time
of trouble, and to cause us to live our lives in a way that respects and reveres
His holiness. In the Tabernacle and the Temple, the Holy of Holies was where
the glory of God abode. The Priest had to sanctify himself before walking into
the holy glow of God’s presence. If he were found to be unclean the priest
would drop dead and have to be dragged out by a rope that was tied to his ankle.
II) THE PASSING OF THE GLORY
The glory of the Lord was manifest from time to time during the history of
Israel, such as at the dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 5:14 and 7:1.
Then again when Elijah prayed in the contest against the priests of Baal, the
fire fell and consumed the sacrifice, wood, altar, water and dust (1 Kings 18).
But as Israel and Judah continued to waver in their devotion to God, and as the
judgment of God came upon them for their idolatry, the glory faded. Ezekiel had
been carried away into Babylonian captivity, but in a vision the Lord showed him
Jerusalem where Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord departing. “He saw the glory
of the Lord departing from apostate Israel in four reluctant steps: First, it
left the Mercy Seat and stood over the threshold of the house (Ezekiel 10:4).
Second, it rose from off the threshold and apparently hovered over the midst of
the city (11:23). Third, it ‘went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon
the mountain [Mount Olives] which is on the east side of the city’ (11:23). And
fourth, while it lingered there, the Spirit of God took Ezekiel back to Chaldea,
and the vision went up from him (11:24).
“No more do we read (except prophetically, Ezek. 43:2-5; 44:4; Hab. 2:14) of the
glory of the Lord in Israel, until Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Then an angel
appeared to the shepherds, announced the birth of Christ, ‘and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them’ (Luke 2:9).” [Hershberger, p. 23]
The apostasy of Israel resulted in the absence of the glory. But God’s love and
mercy sent the glory back to those who believe in Him.
III) THE PERSON OF THE GLORY
The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone
all around them. It had been a long dark night, but the glory of the Lord was
back. The light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.
The angelic choir sang, “Glory to God in the highest.” Jesus came bringing the
glory of God with Him. The Messiah is born, the presence of God among men, the
power of God into a sin-darkened world.
The prophetic voice of God had not been heard in over 400 years, but unto you is
born this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, the Word
made flesh, the voice of God speaking life where death had reigned.
The glory of God was veiled in human flesh, but even at that there were times
and places where the glory shone through. On the night of His birth the glory
of the Lord shone round about them. Thirty some years later He was on a mount
with Peter, James and John, and the glory of God shone through the veil of flesh
as He was transfigured and His raiment was white as the light (Mat. 17:2).
Then, at the time of His ascension, Jesus was lifted from the sight of the His
disciples in a cloud of glory (Luke 24:51)
Jesus came to bring the glory back to the people of God. And Paul will tell us
that the people of God are those who have been justified by faith, those who
confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This is the message of Christmas; the glory of the Lord has come, in the birth,
in the life, ministry and miracles of Messiah the glory of the Lord was revealed
in Israel.
IV) THE PROMISE OF THE GLORY
Jesus came to bring the glory of the Lord to His people, and He didn’t take it
with Him when He left. Jesus gave us these words of promise before His
ascension, John 16:7-14:
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for
if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will
send him unto you.
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
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