Introduction
Hebrews 1:3 declares, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” This verse gives us one of the clearest revelations of who Jesus Christ is. He is not merely a messenger from God, nor simply a prophet who pointed us toward heaven. He is the very radiance of God’s glory. In Him, the invisible God becomes visible. Through Him, the eternal light of the Father shines into the world.
When we consider the phrase “the radiance of God’s glory,” we must pause and ask ourselves: What does it mean? How does this reality shape our faith, our worship, and our daily walk? This message invites us to reflect deeply on this truth, so that our hearts may burn with reverence and our lives may shine with His light.
The Meaning of Glory
The word glory in Scripture often speaks of the weight, majesty, and splendor of God. Psalm 19:1 tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Creation reveals glimpses of this glory. The vastness of the oceans, the brilliance of the stars, the beauty of a sunrise—all point us to the majesty of the Creator.
Yet creation reveals only fragments of His glory. The fullness of God’s glory cannot be captured by mountains, rivers, or galaxies. The prophets who saw visions of the throne room could not fully describe it. Isaiah fell on his face, crying, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). Ezekiel struggled for words, often saying, “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” (Ezekiel 1:28). The glory of God is beyond human language.
But then the Word became flesh. And suddenly, the incomprehensible glory of God was made known in a person—Jesus Christ.
The Radiance of God’s Glory
Notice the Scripture does not say that Jesus reflects God’s glory. It says He is the radiance of God’s glory. Reflection is indirect, like the moon reflecting the light of the sun. Radiance, however, is direct. It is the light itself. The rays of the sun are not separate from the sun; they are the very expression of its brilliance. In the same way, Jesus is not merely carrying the glory of God—He is the shining forth of it.
John 1:14 declares, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The disciples were not looking at a reflection. They were beholding God’s own glory, shining through the life, words, and works of Jesus.
The Glory Revealed in His Life
1. The Glory of His Holiness
From His birth to His death, Jesus lived a life without sin. Even His enemies testified, “We find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4). Holiness is not merely the absence of wrongdoing—it is the presence of God’s purity and perfection. In every word, every deed, every thought, Jesus revealed the holiness of God.
2. The Glory of His Power
Jesus walked on water, multiplied bread, healed the sick, opened blind eyes, and raised the dead. These were not mere displays of power; they were revelations of divine glory. John 2:11 says of the first miracle at Cana, “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” Each miracle unveiled the shining majesty of God breaking into human history.
3. The Glory of His Love
Perhaps the greatest display of glory was His love. He touched lepers whom society rejected. He ate with tax collectors whom others despised. He forgave sinners whom the world condemned. And ultimately, He laid down His life for us on the cross. John 15:13 reminds us, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This love was not human kindness alone—it was divine glory revealed in self-sacrifice.
The Glory Revealed in His Death and Resurrection
The cross, to human eyes, seemed like defeat. Soldiers mocked, crowds jeered, and darkness covered the land. Yet in that very moment, the radiance of God’s glory shone brighter than ever. Jesus, the spotless Lamb, bore the sins of the world. His blood became the fountain of cleansing for every repentant heart.
John 12:23–24 records Jesus saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” His death was not a tragedy—it was glory. It was the light of God’s love breaking the power of sin.
And when He rose on the third day, the fullness of that glory exploded into history. Death was defeated, the grave lost its sting, and eternal life was secured. As Paul writes in Romans 6:4, “Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.” His resurrection is the everlasting witness that He is truly the radiance of God’s glory.
The Glory Revealed in Us
The mystery of the gospel is that this same glory is now revealed in us. 2 Corinthians 4:6 declares, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
When we believe in Jesus, His light fills our hearts. We are transformed from darkness to light, from death to life. This glory is not something we earn—it is the gift of God, shining through us by the Spirit.
Paul goes further in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This means that as we walk with Jesus, we begin to shine more and more with His radiance.
Living as Bearers of His Radiance
Since Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, and since His light shines within us, we are called to live as bearers of that radiance in the world.
- In our words: Let every word be seasoned with grace, truth, and love (Colossians 4:6).
- In our actions: Let our deeds reflect His kindness, mercy, and holiness (Matthew 5:16).
- In our attitudes: Let our hearts be filled with humility, forgiveness, and compassion, for these reveal the character of Christ (Philippians 2:5).
The world is filled with darkness—confusion, hatred, immorality, and despair. But in the midst of this, the light of Christ in us must shine brightly. Philippians 2:15 calls us to be “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
The Eternal Glory to Come
What we see now is only the beginning. The radiance of God’s glory revealed in Jesus will one day fill the whole earth. Revelation 21:23 gives us this breathtaking vision: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
One day, we will dwell forever in that light. There will be no more night, no more pain, no more sorrow. The glory that once shone in Bethlehem, that blazed on the cross, and that burst forth from the empty tomb will be the eternal light of God’s people.
Conclusion
Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory. He is the visible expression of the invisible God. In Him, we see holiness, power, and love in perfect harmony. In His death and resurrection, we see the triumph of light over darkness. And in our lives today, His glory continues to shine, transforming us into His image.
Let us then fix our eyes on Him, walk in His light, and reflect His radiance in a world that desperately needs hope. And let us look forward with anticipation to the day when we will dwell forever in the brightness of His eternal glory.
As Hebrews 12:2 exhorts us: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
May His radiance shine upon you, and may your life be a living testimony of the glory of God revealed in His Son.