turning our backs on glory

"On the Mount of Ascension the Transfiguration is completed. If Jesus had gone to heaven from the Mount of Transfiguration, He would have gone alone; He would have been nothing more to us than a glorious Figure. But He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mount to identify Himself with fallen humanity" (quotes will be taken from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest unless otherwise noted).

See the link in the post below to read the full text of My Utmost for His Highest from May 17.

"He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mount to identify Himself with fallen humanity." This line struck me hard this morning. It's always like that, a particular line or phrase, a connection that I've never made before.

I am reminded that, "...being in very nature God, [Jesus] did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" (Philippians 2:6, NIV). And we see that ("through eyes of faith") on the Mount of Transfiguration with Chambers' help.

Sit with Peter and James and John and see Jesus on this mountain top. The Sons of Thunder awestruck by the lightning glory of the Son of God and Son of Man. Sit with them and hear the voice of the Father: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!"

See Jesus in all His glory, and all the glory of the presence of God in the cloud and smoke that surrounded them. As if the fabric that separates earth from heaven has grown thin and a window is now open revealing the holiness of Jesus' nature and the truth of His relationship to the Father.

And just as quickly as it begins, it's over. The disciples are left in a posture of humility, facedown on the ground. But it is Jesus who will continue to show them the very meaning of humility. He touches them. "Get up. Don't be afraid," He says. And, with that, "He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mount to identify Himself with fallen humanity," as Chambers reminded me this morning.

Jesus "...made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:7-11, NIV).

Of course, that same attitude, that willingness to turn my back on glory and become servant of all should characterize my thoughts, words, and actions as Jesus' disciple. The "glory" that I turn my back on might be different from the glory you are called to leave behind, but the attitude is the same, and the attitude is Christ Jesus' attitude. We find the meaning of humility by attempting to imitate Him.


p.s. If you aren't familiar with what happened on the "Mount of Transfiguration" (and that's okay, but I think there are few other more mysterious and intriguing passages, even on a purely literary level) check out Mark 9:2-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36. Also, you could click here to listen to a sermon I delivered in January for further teaching on the Transfiguration.