The Church and the Glory of Christ

The Church which is His Body X – The Church and the Glory of Christ

In Exodus, God declared His Name Jehovah to Moses.  In the name of Jehovah God began to reveal Himself as the God of Deliverance, as the God of Covenant with His people, and as the God in the midst of Israel.  Israel came to be known as His people, and Jehovah as their God.  Throughout the wilderness journey and into Canaan Jehovah would make Himself known.  

In this picture that God painted through Israel’s History, He was showing His hearts desire to be in relationship with a people, not just any people, but a people for His Name, for His Nature.  God would reveal Himself that He would be known to the Israelites, and that through this knowing they would make Him known to one another and to the earth.  This desire of God’s heart came to its culmination in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Here God reveals Himself in a people.  Here he is made known.

Let’s consider God’s Glory.  God’s Glory was known in Israel as a Cloud and Fire.  God led them forth from Egypt as a Cloud and Fire.  This Cloud was protection to them when they came to Red Sea from the Egyptians.  This Fire was warmth and light in their camps.  This Cloud filled their tabernacle in the wilderness.  

Exo 40:34 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys: 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

In the wilderness, the earthen vessel erected by Moses and Israelites housed the Glory of God.  God Himself had come to dwell with and among His people Israel who had been brought out of Egypt to a land of promise.  A land where God Himself would be the provider and the provision provided.  This was all speaking of the relationship that we have in Christ in the Church.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians that we have this treasure in earthen vessels.  Now God is not filling a tabernacle or temple made with hands but is filling the Church which is the Body of Jesus Christ.  We are filled with the Glory of Jesus Christ.  God Himself is in His House.  You and I that are His are the very House that He has come to in His Glory to fill us within Himself.  

John 17:20 “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”