100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:02,800Bible Profiler200:00:03,440 –> 00:00:07,280For me to live is Christ and to die is300:00:07,600 –> 00:00:08,880gain.400:00:09,200 –> 00:00:12,680See, if you live for this world, then to die is a loss500:00:13,000 –> 00:00:16,240because everything you live for gets left behind.600:00:16,840 –> 00:00:20,160But if you live for Christ, to die is gain.700:00:20,280 –> 00:00:22,360Why? Because you get more of Christ800:00:22,480 –> 00:00:24,280who is your life.900:00:24,639 –> 00:00:27,200Welcome to Open The Bible with pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:27,320 –> 00:00:28,320I’m David Pick.1100:00:28,400 –> 00:00:31,440Thanks so much for joining us today and Colin, this is a1200:00:31,520 –> 00:00:34,040difficult truth for us to take fully on board, isn’t it?1300:00:34,480 –> 00:00:36,400That to live for Christ is gain.1400:00:36,880 –> 00:00:38,040It’s a win for us.1500:00:38,279 –> 00:00:39,279Yeah, it really is.1600:00:39,480 –> 00:00:42,119And I find it helpful to write that down on a bit of paper1700:00:42,200 –> 00:00:44,599For me to live is blank.1800:00:44,959 –> 00:00:46,320Fill in the blank.1900:00:46,560 –> 00:00:48,160Now, what are you gonna put in there?2000:00:48,240 –> 00:00:49,480For me to live is family.2100:00:49,599 –> 00:00:51,080For me to live is work.2200:00:51,240 –> 00:00:55,119For me to live is some interest, some hobby or whatever,2300:00:55,439 –> 00:00:57,240whatever you put in there,2400:00:57,560 –> 00:01:00,880you have to say for me to live is blank.2500:01:00,959 –> 00:01:03,639Whatever you fill in to die is loss because you lose the thing2600:01:03,759 –> 00:01:04,599that you live for.2700:01:04,760 –> 00:01:08,080Only if you put to me to live is Christ.2800:01:08,199 –> 00:01:10,519Can you then say to die is gain?2900:01:10,919 –> 00:01:13,959That’s the wonderful truth that’s given to the Christian3000:01:14,040 –> 00:01:15,040believer.3100:01:15,239 –> 00:01:17,519If whatever you’re doing in relation to your family, your3200:01:17,599 –> 00:01:21,680work and all of your life, you’re really living for Jesus3300:01:21,760 –> 00:01:24,959Christ then to die is gain because you get more of the3400:01:25,040 –> 00:01:26,800Christ that you’re living for.3500:01:27,239 –> 00:01:29,279And that’s the marvellous thing about the Christian life.3600:01:29,360 –> 00:01:33,320There’s no other life of which this is true that you gain when3700:01:33,400 –> 00:01:34,000you die.3800:01:34,080 –> 00:01:37,040But if you live for Christ it really is the truth about you.3900:01:37,360 –> 00:01:39,360That’s so important for us to understand.4000:01:39,559 –> 00:01:44,639And in today’s broadcast join us in John chapter 17 as we begin4100:01:44,720 –> 00:01:47,360the message Jesus will show you his glory.4200:01:47,599 –> 00:01:48,760Here is Colin.4300:01:49,080 –> 00:01:51,519While we’ve been looking over these weeks that the promises4400:01:51,599 –> 00:01:55,919of the Lord Jesus Christ that take us to the very centre of4500:01:56,000 –> 00:01:58,559what Christian faith is really all about.4600:01:59,320 –> 00:02:02,239And we’ve been learning together that Christian faith is more4700:02:02,320 –> 00:02:03,440than a way of life.4800:02:03,519 –> 00:02:04,599It’s more than an ethic.4900:02:05,440 –> 00:02:06,839Is more than a set of beliefs.5000:02:06,919 –> 00:02:08,800It’s more than adopting a creed.5100:02:09,839 –> 00:02:14,520Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and his power and his5200:02:14,600 –> 00:02:18,839presence is promised to all of his people by the Holy Spirit.5300:02:19,440 –> 00:02:21,839And so we’ve been looking at these great promises of Jesus5400:02:21,919 –> 00:02:23,000in John’s Gospel.5500:02:23,119 –> 00:02:24,119He says to us.5600:02:24,520 –> 00:02:27,559I will not leave you as orphans.5700:02:28,919 –> 00:02:32,800He says the Holy Spirit will come and he will live with you5800:02:33,160 –> 00:02:35,000and he will be in you.5900:02:35,960 –> 00:02:38,880And Jesus explained the purpose of his own death and of his6000:02:38,960 –> 00:02:39,960own resurrection.6100:02:40,440 –> 00:02:44,160When he said, I am going to prepare a place for you.6200:02:45,000 –> 00:02:46,320That’s why he went to the cross.6300:02:46,399 –> 00:02:47,199We saw last week.6400:02:47,279 –> 00:02:49,119That is why he went to the grave.6500:02:49,199 –> 00:02:51,199That is why he rules on the third day.6600:02:51,479 –> 00:02:52,759Why did he do these things?6700:02:52,759 –> 00:02:55,039To open heaven for us.6800:02:55,360 –> 00:02:58,160He did these things to remove all the barriers that would6900:02:58,240 –> 00:03:01,720keep you and me out of the presence of God in heaven.7000:03:02,000 –> 00:03:05,039Anything that would stand in the way of us entering into7100:03:05,119 –> 00:03:06,399this everlasting joy.7200:03:06,679 –> 00:03:08,720Jesus goes to prepare a place for us.7300:03:08,880 –> 00:03:13,720He dies and he rises in order that we may arrive there.7400:03:14,360 –> 00:03:16,639And then we saw this marvelous promise of Jesus.7500:03:16,720 –> 00:03:19,119He says, if I go and prepare a place for you,7600:03:19,639 –> 00:03:25,440I will come back and I will take you to be with me.7700:03:26,240 –> 00:03:27,279I was thinking about this, you know,7800:03:27,360 –> 00:03:32,279suppose you buy a new car and you want a particular model.7900:03:33,240 –> 00:03:38,080So you go to the garage and the dealer says to you,8000:03:38,800 –> 00:03:40,679Well, we don’t have that particular model here,8100:03:40,759 –> 00:03:42,320but I can certainly get it for you.8200:03:43,160 –> 00:03:43,679And you say,8300:03:43,759 –> 00:03:44,960Well, I very much want that model.8400:03:45,039 –> 00:03:46,039So will you get it for me?8500:03:46,119 –> 00:03:47,600And he says, yes, I’ll get it for you,8600:03:47,600 –> 00:03:49,279but you have to pay in full upfront.8700:03:50,119 –> 00:03:52,279So you pay all the money for the car.8800:03:52,839 –> 00:03:54,800Here’s one thing that can be guaranteed.8900:03:55,520 –> 00:03:59,360You will go back to that garage to pick up what you’ve paid for.9000:03:59,440 –> 00:03:59,919Won’t you?9100:04:00,559 –> 00:04:05,720You will be back there to take home what you have already purchased.9200:04:06,000 –> 00:04:08,039And this is the logic of what Jesus is saying.9300:04:08,240 –> 00:04:10,720He’s saying, look, if I make the purchase,9400:04:11,360 –> 00:04:16,040if I go to death, if I go into the grave in order to redeem you,9500:04:16,239 –> 00:04:18,079you can be absolutely certain,9600:04:18,079 –> 00:04:22,160then I’m not going to leave you out there as it were at the forecourt of this world.9700:04:22,320 –> 00:04:25,160I am going to come back, to claim what is my own9800:04:25,359 –> 00:04:29,119and to bring you in to my own immediate presence.9900:04:29,519 –> 00:04:32,000And so this is the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ.10000:04:32,000 –> 00:04:34,600And that is where we ended last weekend.10100:04:34,959 –> 00:04:39,320And today, I want us to take one more10200:04:39,679 –> 00:04:41,320marvelous step.10300:04:42,239 –> 00:04:44,079I want us to ask this question, OK?10400:04:44,079 –> 00:04:45,359Jesus is coming back.10500:04:45,399 –> 00:04:47,679He’s going to take us to be with Himself.10600:04:48,959 –> 00:04:51,279What will that be like?10700:04:51,359 –> 00:04:53,839What will it be like when we get there?10800:04:54,679 –> 00:04:57,079What should we expect?10900:04:57,079 –> 00:05:00,359What lies ahead of us as Christian believers?11000:05:00,359 –> 00:05:02,320It’s a marvellous subject.11100:05:02,320 –> 00:05:04,880So I hope you will eagerly open your Bible today11200:05:04,880 –> 00:05:07,079at John and Chapter 17.11300:05:07,079 –> 00:05:09,799And particularly, we’re looking at verse 24.11400:05:10,359 –> 00:05:12,079If you have one of the church Bibles,11500:05:12,079 –> 00:05:14,720you’ll see looking at this chapter, John 17.11600:05:15,200 –> 00:05:18,000That this is the prayer of Jesus.11700:05:18,000 –> 00:05:20,799A prayer immediately before He is arrested.11800:05:20,799 –> 00:05:22,600Immediately before He goes to the cross.11900:05:22,959 –> 00:05:25,079And, you’ll see it comes in three parts.12000:05:25,079 –> 00:05:26,600If you have the church Bible,12100:05:26,600 –> 00:05:29,160the first part there at the beginning of chapter 17,12200:05:29,160 –> 00:05:31,480Jesus Prays for Himself.12300:05:31,480 –> 00:05:35,679Then from verse six, Jesus prays for the disciples.12400:05:35,679 –> 00:05:37,880And then if you look at verse 2012500:05:37,880 –> 00:05:40,760in the NIV, it says there that in this last part,12600:05:40,760 –> 00:05:44,480Jesus is praying for all believers.12700:05:44,559 –> 00:05:45,920Now, our verse today comes from12800:05:45,920 –> 00:05:49,200that last part of the prayer of the Lord Jesus.12900:05:49,200 –> 00:05:51,440In other words, what we’re looking at13000:05:51,440 –> 00:05:55,959is Jesus’ prayer for us.13100:05:55,959 –> 00:05:58,600This is intensely personal.13200:05:58,600 –> 00:06:01,239Here is something absolutely amazing.13300:06:01,239 –> 00:06:04,559Jesus prays for all believers, that’s us.13400:06:06,079 –> 00:06:09,720The son of God is on His knees,13500:06:09,720 –> 00:06:11,140and He is praying for you.13600:06:11,140 –> 00:06:13,359Now, look at this in verse 20, if you would.13700:06:13,359 –> 00:06:18,279Jesus says there my prayer is not for them alone.13800:06:18,279 –> 00:06:19,820In other words, Jesus is not praying13900:06:19,820 –> 00:06:22,100only for the initial disciples,14000:06:22,100 –> 00:06:24,079those who left everything and followed Him14100:06:24,079 –> 00:06:26,079for the three years of His life on earth14200:06:26,079 –> 00:06:28,079and then for the rest of their lives.14300:06:28,079 –> 00:06:32,019He says, verse 20, my prayer is not for them alone.14400:06:32,019 –> 00:06:35,959I pray for those who will believe in me14500:06:35,959 –> 00:06:38,160through their message.14600:06:38,160 –> 00:06:39,440In other words, in verse 20,14700:06:39,459 –> 00:06:42,279Jesus is praying for everyone14800:06:42,279 –> 00:06:45,579who will believe the message of the apostles.14900:06:45,579 –> 00:06:47,519So if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,15000:06:47,519 –> 00:06:51,079if you have trusted your life to Jesus Christ today,15100:06:51,079 –> 00:06:54,119then this prayer really is for you.15200:06:54,119 –> 00:06:55,559Now, I want you to notice15300:06:55,559 –> 00:06:58,000that Jesus describes believers15400:06:58,000 –> 00:07:00,899in another way here in verse 24.15500:07:00,899 –> 00:07:05,899He says, Father, I want those you have given me15600:07:06,320 –> 00:07:08,040to be with me.15700:07:08,040 –> 00:07:09,880Now, if you were here earlier in the series15800:07:09,880 –> 00:07:13,260when we were looking at John chapter six and verse 37,15900:07:13,260 –> 00:07:16,700you will remember that Jesus uses this16000:07:16,700 –> 00:07:20,040as a way of referring to his own people.16100:07:20,040 –> 00:07:21,420He refers to Christians16200:07:21,420 –> 00:07:25,160as those who the father has given to me.16300:07:25,160 –> 00:07:26,000D’you remember he said,16400:07:26,000 –> 00:07:29,279all who the father gives me will come to me,16500:07:29,279 –> 00:07:34,279and whoever comes to me, I will never drive them away.16600:07:34,500 –> 00:07:37,679So those who are given to Christ by the father,16700:07:37,700 –> 00:07:40,019and those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,16800:07:40,019 –> 00:07:41,619they’re the same group of people.16900:07:41,619 –> 00:07:43,559If you have come to Christ,17000:07:43,559 –> 00:07:46,540if you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,17100:07:46,540 –> 00:07:48,600then Jesus says this about you,17200:07:48,600 –> 00:07:53,220that you have been given by the Father to him,17300:07:53,220 –> 00:07:58,220and he is praying for you, he’s praying for you.17400:08:00,160 –> 00:08:04,019Now, what is it that Jesus Christ is praying for his people?17500:08:04,019 –> 00:08:05,420What does he pray for us?17600:08:05,420 –> 00:08:07,359I want you to see two things.17700:08:07,359 –> 00:08:12,359Number one, Christ wants you to be with him.17800:08:13,559 –> 00:08:15,160Notice what he says.17900:08:15,160 –> 00:08:18,519I want those you have given me18000:08:18,519 –> 00:08:22,880to be with me where I am.18100:08:23,880 –> 00:08:26,480Now this is the Son of God,18200:08:26,480 –> 00:08:29,660and he is speaking to the father,18300:08:29,660 –> 00:08:32,919and he says, I want these believers,18400:08:32,919 –> 00:08:36,159I want those you have given to me, Father,18500:08:36,159 –> 00:08:39,119to be with me in heaven.18600:08:39,119 –> 00:08:41,280This is what Jesus is praying about you.18700:08:41,280 –> 00:08:45,320He says, I want you, I want them.18800:08:45,320 –> 00:08:49,159I want you to be with me in heaven.18900:08:49,159 –> 00:08:52,359Now Jesus is about to go to the cross.19000:08:52,359 –> 00:08:55,640He is going to wear the crown of thorns.19100:08:55,640 –> 00:09:00,159He is going to have nails driven into his hands19200:09:00,159 –> 00:09:02,159and into his feet.19300:09:02,159 –> 00:09:05,039He’s going to be plunged into a darkness19400:09:05,039 –> 00:09:08,440that will come over the whole earth.19500:09:08,440 –> 00:09:12,799And if you ask him, Jesus, why are you doing this?19600:09:12,799 –> 00:09:15,280What do you want to get out19700:09:15,280 –> 00:09:17,640of what you are doing on the cross?19800:09:17,640 –> 00:09:19,460The Lord Jesus would say this,19900:09:19,460 –> 00:09:24,080I want those that the father has given me to be with me.20000:09:25,559 –> 00:09:27,599If you are a believer today,20100:09:27,599 –> 00:09:30,400I want you to say this with me.20200:09:30,400 –> 00:09:35,400I’m going to say, I want Colin to be with me where I am.20300:09:35,599 –> 00:09:40,599I want Colin to be with me where I am.20400:09:40,760 –> 00:09:43,080You put your name in there and let’s all say it together.20500:09:43,080 –> 00:09:43,900Going to do this.20600:09:43,900 –> 00:09:44,739All right.20700:09:44,739 –> 00:09:46,359Cause Jesus is praying for you.20800:09:46,359 –> 00:09:47,739It’s this personal.20900:09:47,739 –> 00:09:49,479He goes to the cross for you.21000:09:49,479 –> 00:09:51,979And he says, here’s why.21100:09:51,979 –> 00:09:56,979I want Colin to be with me where I am is his desire.21200:09:56,979 –> 00:09:59,719Where I am, as his desire.21300:09:59,719 –> 00:10:02,260And think about the intensity of this folks.21400:10:02,260 –> 00:10:07,260The son of God is on his knees pleading for the outcome21500:10:08,059 –> 00:10:12,260of his own death and resurrection on the cross.21600:10:12,260 –> 00:10:14,820And you’re saying it’s not just about the immediate group21700:10:14,820 –> 00:10:15,739of disciples.21800:10:15,739 –> 00:10:17,859I’m praying for all those who will believe21900:10:17,859 –> 00:10:22,619in me through the apostolic message.22000:10:22,619 –> 00:10:26,340Now being with Christ is the greatest joy of heaven.22100:10:27,460 –> 00:10:30,380You know, there’d be so many things for us to do.22200:10:30,380 –> 00:10:34,640I mean a new heaven and a new earth.22300:10:35,539 –> 00:10:39,320There will be an eternity to explore its joys.22400:10:39,320 –> 00:10:42,760The book of Revelation tells us that it is the lamb of God22500:10:42,760 –> 00:10:46,719who is the Shepherd who will lead us22600:10:46,719 –> 00:10:49,179into springs of living water.22700:10:49,179 –> 00:10:50,820That’s Revelation 7.22800:10:50,820 –> 00:10:52,539It’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it?22900:10:53,400 –> 00:10:55,039But oh the joys of heaven you will discover23000:10:55,039 –> 00:10:59,559as Christ himself leads you into them23100:10:59,559 –> 00:11:04,479because the lamb at the center of the throne23200:11:04,479 –> 00:11:09,000is the glory and the joy of heaven itself.23300:11:10,419 –> 00:11:13,700Now the Bible uses different pictures analogies23400:11:13,700 –> 00:11:18,179to try and bring this home to us in a way that is clear.23500:11:18,179 –> 00:11:21,219And one of them is the picture of the church23600:11:21,239 –> 00:11:24,239as the bride of Christ.23700:11:24,239 –> 00:11:27,539Now everyone who has ever been a bride23800:11:27,539 –> 00:11:31,700is going to understand this picture really well.23900:11:31,700 –> 00:11:34,239And everyone who has ever been a bridegroom24000:11:34,239 –> 00:11:36,979is going to understand it too.24100:11:37,940 –> 00:11:41,619Think about the bride as she arrives for the wedding,24200:11:42,520 –> 00:11:47,119she is beautiful, but she is not taken up24300:11:47,119 –> 00:11:48,460with her own beauty.24400:11:49,320 –> 00:11:53,719She is taken up with the bridegroom.24500:11:55,539 –> 00:11:57,260Everyone who’s ever been a bridegroom24600:11:57,260 –> 00:12:01,239knows about this, that she walks down the aisle24700:12:01,239 –> 00:12:04,880and there you are, you stand and she looks amazing.24800:12:06,080 –> 00:12:08,500And there is a light in her eye24900:12:08,500 –> 00:12:11,440and here’s the most amazing thing of all,25000:12:11,440 –> 00:12:16,119that the light in her eye is for you.25100:12:17,059 –> 00:12:18,460It’s the joy of the wedding.25200:12:20,280 –> 00:12:22,780The greatest joy of heaven is that25300:12:22,780 –> 00:12:26,179you get to be with Christ.25400:12:27,780 –> 00:12:29,159You’re listening to Open The Bible25500:12:29,159 –> 00:12:30,380with Pastor Colin Smith25600:12:30,380 –> 00:12:33,979in a message called Jesus Will Show You His Glory.25700:12:33,979 –> 00:12:36,440It’s part of our series, Rock Solid,25800:12:36,440 –> 00:12:39,179seven promises Christ makes to you.25900:12:39,179 –> 00:12:41,460And, if you’ve missed any of the series so far26000:12:41,460 –> 00:12:43,700or if you ever want to go back and listen again,26100:12:43,700 –> 00:12:45,039you can do that by coming26200:12:45,539 –> 00:12:50,039online to our website, OpenTheBible.org.uk26300:12:50,039 –> 00:12:51,840or find us as a podcast.26400:12:51,840 –> 00:12:53,960And, those are on all the main podcast sites.26500:12:53,960 –> 00:12:56,239Search for Open The Bible UK26600:12:56,239 –> 00:12:59,080or follow the link from our website.26700:12:59,080 –> 00:13:01,960While you’re on our website or checking out the podcast,26800:13:01,960 –> 00:13:04,679don’t forget about Open the Bible Daily.26900:13:04,679 –> 00:13:08,299It’s our series of two to three minute daily reflections27000:13:08,299 –> 00:13:10,239based on Pastor Colin’s teaching27100:13:10,239 –> 00:13:12,780and read in the UK by Sue McCleish.27200:13:12,859 –> 00:13:14,039There’s a new one every day27300:13:14,039 –> 00:13:16,239and many Christians start their day with it27400:13:16,239 –> 00:13:19,080and find it’s a wonderful blessing to them.27500:13:19,080 –> 00:13:22,619Back to the message now, here again is Colin.27600:13:22,619 –> 00:13:24,700The greatest joy of heaven27700:13:24,700 –> 00:13:28,500is that you get to be with Christ.27800:13:29,460 –> 00:13:32,799And, that is why Paul, on one occasion in his life,27900:13:32,799 –> 00:13:34,539he was in prison many times, of course,28000:13:34,539 –> 00:13:37,140but on one occasion when he was in prison,28100:13:37,140 –> 00:13:39,419he did not know what was going to happen next.28200:13:39,419 –> 00:13:40,900He thought that it was quite possible28300:13:40,900 –> 00:13:42,820that he may be executed.28400:13:42,820 –> 00:13:45,020And he wrote to the Philippians from prison28500:13:45,020 –> 00:13:46,080and this is what he said.28600:13:46,080 –> 00:13:48,940He said, I’m torn between the two28700:13:48,940 –> 00:13:52,219because I desire to depart and be with Christ28800:13:52,219 –> 00:13:54,580because that is far better.28900:13:54,580 –> 00:13:57,460But then there was so much still to be done in this life29000:13:57,460 –> 00:14:00,659and Paul says if I die, I will be with Christ29100:14:00,659 –> 00:14:04,020but if I live where there’s work for me still to do here.29200:14:04,020 –> 00:14:05,739Listen, death for a Christian29300:14:05,739 –> 00:14:09,340is not slipping into some kind of unconsciousness.29400:14:09,340 –> 00:14:13,219It is an entrance into the presence of Jesus.29500:14:13,219 –> 00:14:14,559And that is why Paul says,29600:14:14,559 –> 00:14:16,219writing from prison in Philippians,29700:14:16,219 –> 00:14:18,299not knowing when death is going to come for him29800:14:18,299 –> 00:14:20,260as none of us knows when it will come for us,29900:14:20,260 –> 00:14:25,260he says, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.30000:14:26,159 –> 00:14:27,659It is gain.30100:14:27,659 –> 00:14:31,419See, if you live for this world, then to die is a loss,30200:14:31,419 –> 00:14:33,179an absolute loss30300:14:33,179 –> 00:14:36,020because everything you live for gets left behind30400:14:37,020 –> 00:14:40,440But if you live for Christ, to die is gain.30500:14:40,440 –> 00:14:41,280Why?30600:14:41,280 –> 00:14:45,059Because you get more of Christ who is your life.30700:14:45,059 –> 00:14:47,940And that’s why Paul says to be with Christ,30800:14:47,940 –> 00:14:50,239it is far better.30900:14:50,239 –> 00:14:51,260Now, this is the first thing31000:14:51,260 –> 00:14:52,919that the Lord Jesus prays for us.31100:14:52,919 –> 00:14:55,380If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ,31200:14:55,380 –> 00:14:58,919the son of God has made this intercession for you.31300:14:59,840 –> 00:15:04,840I want father, those you have given to me to be with me.31400:15:06,799 –> 00:15:08,140To be with me.31500:15:09,299 –> 00:15:13,080And here’s the second thing that Christ prays.31600:15:13,080 –> 00:15:15,960And then we’re going to come to some applications.31700:15:15,960 –> 00:15:18,739Christ not only wants you to be with Him,31800:15:18,739 –> 00:15:21,020but specifically, do you see it here?31900:15:21,020 –> 00:15:25,000Christ wants you to see His glory.32000:15:25,000 –> 00:15:28,200I want those you have given me32100:15:28,200 –> 00:15:32,479to see my glory,32200:15:32,479 –> 00:15:33,679to see my glory.32300:15:34,640 –> 00:15:36,159Now, Jesus tells us,32400:15:36,159 –> 00:15:37,419do you notice in this verse32500:15:37,419 –> 00:15:39,479that this glory he’s speaking about32600:15:39,479 –> 00:15:44,479is given to the Son by the Father?32700:15:45,799 –> 00:15:48,599Now that tells us that Jesus is not speaking here32800:15:48,599 –> 00:15:51,599about his own eternal glory,32900:15:51,599 –> 00:15:54,039the glory that has been inherent to Him33000:15:54,039 –> 00:15:56,400as the Second Person of the Trinity33100:15:56,400 –> 00:15:59,919since from all eternity past,33200:15:59,919 –> 00:16:02,080that glory was not given to him.33300:16:02,140 –> 00:16:04,159It is his by right.33400:16:04,159 –> 00:16:06,000So what is this glory that is given33500:16:06,000 –> 00:16:08,200by the Father to the Son?33600:16:08,200 –> 00:16:10,679The glory that is given by the Father to the Son33700:16:10,679 –> 00:16:13,080is the glory that he received33800:16:13,080 –> 00:16:14,880when as the God-man,33900:16:14,880 –> 00:16:18,640he ascends in the resurrection body34000:16:18,640 –> 00:16:21,719to the right hand of the Father in heaven.34100:16:21,719 –> 00:16:23,479It’s the glory that Paul talks about34200:16:23,479 –> 00:16:25,659in Philippians chapter two.34300:16:25,659 –> 00:16:27,940Do you remember there where he is describing34400:16:27,940 –> 00:16:29,080the work of Christ,34500:16:29,080 –> 00:16:32,380where he says that the second person of the Trinity,34600:16:32,380 –> 00:16:34,020the Son of God,34700:16:34,020 –> 00:16:37,580was in very nature God.34800:16:37,580 –> 00:16:41,099But he didn’t grasp onto his equality with God,34900:16:41,099 –> 00:16:43,179which is his by right,35000:16:43,179 –> 00:16:44,179but here’s his glory.35100:16:44,179 –> 00:16:45,539He made himself,35200:16:45,539 –> 00:16:48,380he took the very nature of a servant35300:16:48,380 –> 00:16:50,539and being found in appearance as a man,35400:16:50,539 –> 00:16:51,679he humbled himself.35500:16:51,679 –> 00:16:53,739He became obedient to death.35600:16:53,739 –> 00:16:55,299He went all the way down, Paul says,35700:16:55,299 –> 00:16:57,039even to death on a cross.35800:16:57,080 –> 00:16:59,580The worst kind of death imaginable.35900:16:59,580 –> 00:17:01,400And therefore, Paul says,36000:17:01,400 –> 00:17:03,200God has exalted him.36100:17:03,200 –> 00:17:06,099God has lifted him to the highest place36200:17:06,099 –> 00:17:08,540and given him the name that is above every name,36300:17:08,540 –> 00:17:09,760that at the name of Jesus,36400:17:09,760 –> 00:17:11,099every knee shall bow.36500:17:11,099 –> 00:17:12,920God has exalted him36600:17:12,920 –> 00:17:15,540so that every tongue in Heaven and on earth36700:17:15,540 –> 00:17:16,619and under the earth36800:17:16,619 –> 00:17:19,079will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord36900:17:19,079 –> 00:17:22,040to the glory of God the father.37000:17:22,040 –> 00:17:23,599Now Jesus says,37100:17:23,599 –> 00:17:26,800this glory that is going to be given37200:17:26,800 –> 00:17:29,180to the ascended Lord37300:17:29,180 –> 00:17:31,680as he returns to the right hand of the father,37400:17:31,680 –> 00:17:33,719the Godman, the redeemer.37500:17:33,719 –> 00:17:35,640Our glorified savior37600:17:35,640 –> 00:17:37,119at the right hand of the father.37700:17:37,119 –> 00:17:38,760He says to the father,37800:17:38,760 –> 00:17:42,040I don’t only want to enter into it,37900:17:42,040 –> 00:17:45,560but I want all those who you have given to me38000:17:45,560 –> 00:17:47,439to see it.38100:17:47,439 –> 00:17:48,260To see it.38200:17:49,839 –> 00:17:51,079Now what does it mean38300:17:51,079 –> 00:17:53,819to see Christ’s glory.38400:17:54,819 –> 00:17:57,699Will this mean seeing with your eyes38500:17:59,020 –> 00:18:02,380or will it be understanding with your mind?38600:18:04,699 –> 00:18:08,140One of the great puritan writer’s Thomas Manton38700:18:08,140 –> 00:18:11,459says it will be both.38800:18:11,459 –> 00:18:12,479He says this,38900:18:12,479 –> 00:18:16,140there is a glorified eye39000:18:16,140 –> 00:18:19,819as well as a glorified mind.39100:18:19,819 –> 00:18:21,420Remember that Job said,39200:18:22,239 –> 00:18:24,640the worms destroy this body39300:18:25,640 –> 00:18:29,300yet in my flesh,39400:18:29,300 –> 00:18:31,560I will see God.39500:18:31,560 –> 00:18:36,040He’s talking about seeing with eyes, glorified eyes,39600:18:36,040 –> 00:18:37,079the resurrection body.39700:18:37,079 –> 00:18:38,540That’s what he’s talking about.39800:18:38,540 –> 00:18:41,780You will see the glory of the son of God39900:18:41,780 –> 00:18:46,780as the disciples saw their risen Lord at Easter.40000:18:47,880 –> 00:18:48,719You will see him.40100:18:49,660 –> 00:18:52,920But Manton says there’s more to it than this40200:18:52,920 –> 00:18:57,920because the angels do not have bodies.40300:18:59,260 –> 00:19:02,400They are spirits so they don’t have eyes.40400:19:03,439 –> 00:19:05,540And yet the Bible makes it very clear40500:19:05,540 –> 00:19:09,380that the angels always look on the face of the father40600:19:09,380 –> 00:19:10,380who is in heaven.40700:19:10,380 –> 00:19:12,339That’s Matthew 18 in verse 10.40800:19:13,660 –> 00:19:14,520So says Manton,40900:19:14,520 –> 00:19:17,839and we will not only see the glory of Christ41000:19:17,839 –> 00:19:21,000in the resurrection body with our eyes,41100:19:21,000 –> 00:19:24,079but in the same way as the angels who do not have bodies41200:19:24,079 –> 00:19:28,060for they are spirits, we will perceive, we will know,41300:19:28,060 –> 00:19:31,040we will grasp the glory of Christ41400:19:31,040 –> 00:19:34,660in all its fullness with our minds.41500:19:35,800 –> 00:19:40,060F.F. Bruce, I think, has a very wonderful comment on this.41600:19:40,060 –> 00:19:41,060He says, you know,41700:19:41,060 –> 00:19:44,920the disciples remember had seen something at least41800:19:44,920 –> 00:19:47,400of the glory of the incarnate word of God.41900:19:47,400 –> 00:19:49,939We have seen his glory, the one who dwelt among us42000:19:49,939 –> 00:19:52,579full of grace and truth, John 1.14.42100:19:52,579 –> 00:19:54,339And he says this,42200:19:55,319 –> 00:19:57,660that the disciples and that includes us42300:19:57,660 –> 00:20:00,819will see Christ’s glory more fully42400:20:00,819 –> 00:20:04,660when we live in the presence of the glorified Lord42500:20:04,660 –> 00:20:08,800not perhaps because he will then be endowed42600:20:08,800 –> 00:20:11,420with more of that glory42700:20:11,420 –> 00:20:16,339but because they will be better able to behold it.42800:20:18,060 –> 00:20:21,000In other words, the full revelation of the glory of Christ42900:20:21,000 –> 00:20:23,420is not because more glory has been added to him.43000:20:25,000 –> 00:20:27,119The full revelation of the glory of Christ43100:20:27,119 –> 00:20:31,439is because with clear view and with clear eyes43200:20:31,439 –> 00:20:34,599we are able to comprehend it.43300:20:34,599 –> 00:20:37,099And you see, is that not what Paul is talking about43400:20:37,099 –> 00:20:40,020in 1 Corinthians 13, one of the most famous verses43500:20:40,020 –> 00:20:42,680in all of the Bible, have you ever thought about this?43600:20:43,640 –> 00:20:48,640He says, now we see, but a poor reflection in a mirror,43700:20:51,280 –> 00:20:54,920but then we will see face to face.43800:20:56,239 –> 00:20:58,859See, it’s not that Christ is somehow waiting43900:20:58,859 –> 00:21:00,699to be glorified on the last day.44000:21:00,699 –> 00:21:02,800No, he is crowned with glory and honor now44100:21:02,800 –> 00:21:04,180and all the angels know it.44200:21:05,719 –> 00:21:08,979Christ’s glory is already seen in heaven.44300:21:08,979 –> 00:21:11,339And even as Christians, we have seen something44400:21:11,380 –> 00:21:13,060of the glory of Christ, we’ve seen that44500:21:13,060 –> 00:21:15,839in second Corinthians four, that we have the light44600:21:15,839 –> 00:21:17,339of the knowledge of the glory of God44700:21:17,339 –> 00:21:18,939in the face of Jesus Christ.44800:21:18,939 –> 00:21:21,619But we only have this by faith.44900:21:23,780 –> 00:21:26,619And what we see is like a reflection45000:21:26,619 –> 00:21:29,540in a rather old and tatty mirror.45100:21:30,979 –> 00:21:33,859The mirror is the problem, not the glory45200:21:34,839 –> 00:21:37,060and faith is a poor mirror.45300:21:37,560 –> 00:21:41,640That’s why we long for faith to be turned to sight.45400:21:42,819 –> 00:21:44,599For then you will see Christ’s glory45500:21:44,599 –> 00:21:48,400and you will know him and know his glory45600:21:48,400 –> 00:21:50,739even as you are fully known.45700:21:53,140 –> 00:21:56,219What a great picture, comparing faith to a mirror.45800:21:56,219 –> 00:21:57,599You’re listening to Open the Bible45900:21:57,599 –> 00:21:59,660with Pastor Colin Smith46000:21:59,660 –> 00:22:03,040and a message called Jesus Will Show You His Glory.46100:22:03,040 –> 00:22:05,459It’s part of our series like rock solid46200:22:05,900 –> 00:22:08,660Seven Promises That Christ Makes To You.46300:22:08,660 –> 00:22:10,719And if you ever miss one of the series,46400:22:10,719 –> 00:22:12,160it’s very easy to catch up46500:22:12,160 –> 00:22:13,760or go back and listen again46600:22:13,760 –> 00:22:17,939by coming to our website, openthebible.org.uk.46700:22:17,939 –> 00:22:19,239And there you’ll find all the messages46800:22:19,239 –> 00:22:21,239which have already been broadcast46900:22:21,239 –> 00:22:23,839and you’ll also find them on your favorite podcast site47000:22:23,839 –> 00:22:24,959if that’s a better way for you47100:22:24,959 –> 00:22:27,219to listen to Pastor Colin’s teaching.47200:22:27,219 –> 00:22:29,739And those are on all the main podcast sites47300:22:29,739 –> 00:22:31,760search for openthebible.org.uk47400:22:31,900 –> 00:22:35,619or follow the link to the podcast from our website.47500:22:36,640 –> 00:22:39,099Open the Bible is supported by our listeners47600:22:39,099 –> 00:22:41,020and we’re extremely grateful47700:22:41,020 –> 00:22:43,079for the support you give us.47800:22:43,079 –> 00:22:44,439If you’ve been thinking about47900:22:44,439 –> 00:22:46,119beginning to support Open The Bible48000:22:46,119 –> 00:22:47,300in that way,48100:22:47,300 –> 00:22:49,640we have an offer for you this month.48200:22:49,640 –> 00:22:52,579If you’re able to set up a new direct debit48300:22:52,579 –> 00:22:54,400to the work of Open The Bible48400:22:54,400 –> 00:22:57,199in the amount of five pounds per month or more48500:22:57,199 –> 00:23:00,219or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,48600:23:00,280 –> 00:23:02,000we’d love to say thank you48700:23:02,000 –> 00:23:03,660by sending you two copies48800:23:03,660 –> 00:23:06,319of Pastor Colin’s book Christmas stories48900:23:06,319 –> 00:23:09,119along with five lovely Christmas cards49000:23:09,119 –> 00:23:11,619with illustrations from the book.49100:23:11,619 –> 00:23:15,140Christmas stories is all about the Christmas story49200:23:15,140 –> 00:23:19,180from the viewpoint of five different biblical characters.49300:23:19,180 –> 00:23:22,560There’s Mary, Joseph, Simeon,49400:23:22,560 –> 00:23:25,520the Angel Gabriel, and even King Herod.49500:23:25,520 –> 00:23:27,900Colin, that sounds like a unique book.49600:23:27,900 –> 00:23:29,800Where did the idea come from?49700:23:30,520 –> 00:23:33,359Well, as a pastor, you’re always trying49800:23:33,359 –> 00:23:35,640to tell the great story of the birth49900:23:35,640 –> 00:23:38,500of the Lord Jesus Christ in a fresh way.50000:23:38,500 –> 00:23:41,920And over several years, I just hit on the idea50100:23:41,920 –> 00:23:45,300of telling the story in a first person form50200:23:45,300 –> 00:23:47,020through the eyes of various people50300:23:47,020 –> 00:23:48,560who were involved in the event.50400:23:48,560 –> 00:23:51,900And so, our friends at 10 Of Those Publishing50500:23:51,900 –> 00:23:53,599have gathered some of these together50600:23:53,599 –> 00:23:55,880and we now have Christmas stories.50700:23:55,880 –> 00:23:58,060That is, the Christmas story told50800:23:58,099 –> 00:24:01,780through the eyes of Mary, through the eyes of Joseph,50900:24:01,780 –> 00:24:04,219through the eyes of Simeon, the prophet51000:24:04,219 –> 00:24:07,219who blessed the Lord Jesus in the temple.51100:24:07,219 –> 00:24:08,800Even through the eyes of Herod51200:24:08,800 –> 00:24:10,979and through the eyes of the angel Gabriel.51300:24:10,979 –> 00:24:13,699And it just brings something fresh51400:24:13,699 –> 00:24:16,040to the telling of the Christmas story.51500:24:16,040 –> 00:24:18,219And it’s designed to be read aloud.51600:24:18,219 –> 00:24:19,939It’s for all the family,51700:24:19,939 –> 00:24:21,979it’s for you and people you love.51800:24:21,979 –> 00:24:23,939Read it aloud at Christmas,51900:24:23,939 –> 00:24:26,260it will help to bring the Christmas story52000:24:26,319 –> 00:24:27,500and all of its wonder,52100:24:27,500 –> 00:24:31,219and all of its glory in a fresh way into your life.52200:24:31,219 –> 00:24:33,160Well, we want to send you not one copy,52300:24:33,160 –> 00:24:35,920but two copies of this book, Christmas stories,52400:24:35,920 –> 00:24:38,339along with five lovely Christmas cards52500:24:38,339 –> 00:24:41,180based on the illustrations from the book.52600:24:41,180 –> 00:24:44,140You can find full terms and conditions on our website,52700:24:44,140 –> 00:24:47,060openthebible.org.uk,52800:24:47,060 –> 00:24:48,959and you can give online.52900:24:48,959 –> 00:24:51,540Please remember not to give anonymously53000:24:51,540 –> 00:24:53,579and to leave your full name and address53100:24:53,579 –> 00:24:55,680so we can send you your gift.53200:24:55,680 –> 00:24:58,300For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,53300:24:58,300 –> 00:25:00,599I’m David Pick and join us again, please53400:25:00,599 –> 00:25:02,619next time on Open the Bible.53500:25:07,839 –> 00:25:09,099If you’re a Christian,53600:25:09,099 –> 00:25:11,239how can you increase your confidence53700:25:11,239 –> 00:25:13,599that you will one day be in heaven?53800:25:13,599 –> 00:25:16,119Find out next time on Open the Bible.