(8) The Radiance of God

Have you ever looked at the sun? In reality, no, you haven’t. You have looked at the rays emanating from the sun, but you have never looked at the sun itself. You can’t. Your eyes would be burned right out of your skull. That is, assuming you could get close enough to look without your whole body being vaporized. There’s some serious radiation coming off that ferocious orange ball!

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV)

God has communicated His glory in the magnificent beauty, astounding vastness, incredible variety and amazing creative intricacies of the universe. God has communicated His glory in the wonder of humanity; created in His image with even greater beauty, variety and creativity. But, of all God's ways of revealing His glory to man, the greatest has been the incarnation – Jesus taking on human flesh. The incarnation speaks volumes about God's character and purpose.

The writer of Hebrews tells us here that God spoke in Jesus. What did He speak? Hebrews 1:3 explains the message.

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."

There are two phrases in this description of Jesus that are fascinating in their depth of meaning. The first is that Jesus is "the radiance of the glory of God. William Hendriksen states, "The Son causes the radiance of the Father to shine forth. The Son's radiance, therefore, is an extension of God's glory."

Noted Greek scholar Kittel helps us understand the idea of Jesus being the radiance of the glory of God.

"The sun as a heavenly body radiates its light in all its brightness and power to the earth. In the same way , we may see Christ as the radiant light coming from the Father as sunlight emanates from the sun." 　

Lloyd J. Ogilvie gives us further understanding,

This marvelous word [radiance], filled with wonder, is a great word for the twentieth century, the first atomic century. Any time we detect radiation, whether light from a distant star or from alpha, gamma, or X-rays, we know there is a radiating source. The radiation that proceeds can be called effulgence or radiance, especially with light. It is not reflected, but a primary radiation coming straight from the source. If there is radiation, there must be a radiating source; if there is a radiating source, there must be radiation appropriate to the source. The nature of the radiation is determined by the source and the character of the source may be identified by analyzing the radiation.

So it is with Jesus Christ and God. Christ is the primal radiance of God’s glory; that is, because of the nature of Jesus Christ we know there must be some radiating source – God’s own glory.

We can say then that Jesus "flashes forth" the glory of God in all His divine nature. The one true God in all His glory is the source and Jesus radiates that glory. Jesus is the brilliant shining forth of the glorious nature of God. And Oh, how great is that
glory!

God spoke in Jesus. What did He speak? The story of His glory!

Jesus' ULTIMATE purpose in coming to earth was not simply to provide for man’s salvation from hell. Jesus came first and foremost to put the glory of God on display in magnificent brilliance. Jesus' coming was God centered, not man centered.


Soli Deo Gloria


Next: The Cloning of God