Grief to Glory

Introduction

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I’ve been reading a nonfiction book by a pastor whose daughter decided to reject the faith at age 18 not too long after making a profession of faith at age 16. She left her parents in the dust when she went to college. Left college to marry a man. She wasn’t satisfied and decided to divorce him. So she found another man, a rich man, a drug dealer. She had fast cars, a large house, and an expensive wardrobe. But she still wasn’t satisfied. His constant paranoia made her decide to leave him. She moved back in with her parents and went back to college, but she wasn’t satisfied, so she kept living in her sinful life and her parents told her to get her own place.

She started doing well in school, and enjoyed her job as a server. She then shifted her view of happiness to serving others, believing that’s how her parents were happy. But she still wasn’t satisfied. She attended psychotherapy and seminars that told her to own responsibility for everything in her life and live honestly with others. She thought that was what was preventing her happiness, but she still wasn’t satisfied.

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We all have a longing for our souls to be satisfied, to find contentment, happiness. But it also seems like our souls always long for more and more. Ecclesiastes 5:10 “10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” This seems to be the case for whatever the soul longs for. The soul that longs for money always feels poor. The soul that longs for power always feels weak. The soul that longs for pleasure always feels bored. The soul that longs for happiness always feels sad.

Why is it that when we set our minds on getting what we think we truly want that we feel we never have enough it?

I propose that it is because our souls were designed to be satisfied by something so much larger than anything this world has to offer.

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In this passage we get a glimpse of the soul-satisfying glory of Christ. And, we also discover how to truly see it.

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Matt. 16:24-17:13

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Grief

Matthew 16:24–28 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Revelation

Jesus opens with a statement of what it means to truly be one of his disciples. The phrasing is similar to when he was reminding Peter of his place “behind him.” Jesus gives the condition for anyone who wishes to come behind him: to take up the cross and follow him.

“Taking up the cross” is not just putting up with minor annoyances. Rather it is a call to accept even death if necessary. But this call to be willing to die is not about having a martyr complex or victim mindset. Rather, this call to be willing to die is tied to “And follow me” and the end of v. 24. That is, to follow Christ’s example, to leave like he did, to be meek, to embrace suffering.

When Ignatius (2nd century Christian) was old and on his way to Rome to be sentenced, he was so willing to die that he prevented other believers from trying to preserve his life. He said, “I am God’s wheat to be ground by the teeth of beasts.” Ignatius did not see his death as the end but as refinement.

Jesus continues to get to the heart of this willingness to die in v. 25. Loyalty to Jesus is more important than self-preservation. It’s like I said in the introduction, the person whose soul always craves to be alive feel like its about to die. The soul that craves being young always feels old. Jesus says “whoever would save his life, will lose it.” And again, Jesus is not just encouraging a death wish. He says, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Willing to lose the life for Jesus’s sake is the extent in which our loyalty to Jesus goes, not just a mere disdain for life.

“Gaining the whole world” in v. 26 is similar to the temptation that Jesus faced when Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world if he would only worship him. “Forfeiting the soul” refers to a transaction that includes both death and the eternal state. How could the man gain his soul back? Not even the world would be enough to pay for it. Why? Because Jesus will be the one who repays each according to their due (v. 27). Jesus repays in righteousness. Eternal bliss or torment after death is determined by the Son of Man. What will be the basis of such determination? Loyalty to Jesus is more important than self-preservation or one’s other interests.

Being able to see Christ’s glory requires being willing to lay down your life following him. This is what Jesus teaches in v. 28. He says that some there will not taste death until they see Christ coming in his kingdom. “Coming” here I do not believe refers to his return, but rather to his coming to the Father after his resurrection. Like the vision inDan. 7, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days. This is a reference to his resurrection and ascension, to which a foretaste is given in the very next passage.

Relevance

I think this passage leaves us with one major question: To what extent do we follow Jesus? To what extent do you “follow” something at all? You could say that your a fan of a certain team. You might watch their games. But would you be willing to die for that person? You might follow someone on social media. You may be willing to share their content with others, but would you be willing to die for them? You might appreciate a certain political candidate. You may go to the voting both and vote for them, but would you say that you deny yourself for them?

Most American religious experience is an attempt of self-fulfillment. The soul yearns to be content, for inner-peace, for psychological wholeness. But Jesus says that following him is not an exercise in self-fulfillment, but in self-denial. But we have to be careful not to fall into the ditch on the other side. Their were monks in the early church and in the middle ages who would literally beat themselves with whips because of a text like this. But this is not what Christ is demanding. Self-denial does not entail self-inflicting wounds.

But some of us find ourselves between two difficult places: we are surrounded with the annoying self-fulfillment culture on the one hand who just want to twist Jesus as a means to make us feel better. And we are faced with our guilt feelings on the other hand. Feeling bad over our sins sometimes pushes us to deny ourselves good gifts God is giving us. Self-denial is not asceticism.

Self-denial is laying down all our other soul-cravings and picking up the cross and following Jesus. I don’t think this is a one time thing at salvation. I think this is a daily process. A daily recognition, “What does my soul selfishly crave today?” Then laying that thing down, letting that craving go. But its not just like an Eastern emptying ourself of all desire. No, after we drop that soul-craving, we pick up the cross—the extent that we are loyal to Christ, then we follow him with our all, not holding anything back.

Bridge

In this process, we begin to see Christ for who he truly is. And we, like Moses, begin to ask, “Lord, show us your glory.” And Christ in his graciousness gives us glimpses of his glory that we find more soul-satisfying than anything else. And this is just what Christ gives in the following passage:

Extra:

Self-denial is not a call to beat our cravings into submission. We are not spiritually whipping our soul like the ascetic. No, we are training our soul to crave what it was to designed to crave. Our souls are not satisfied with any worldly thing because they were designed to crave the infinite. But in order to see the infinite, we have to sacrifice all our worldly soul-cravings.

Glory

Matthew 17:1–8 ESV

1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Revelation

Matthew gives a specific time in v. 1 alluding to Exodus 24:16 “16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” The location on the high mountain reflects Mount Sinai.

In v. 2 it says Jesus was transfigured. This is an important term that has largely fallen out of common use. Jesus is not changing into something different, rather his outward appearance is now reflecting who he truly is, a veil is being removed. And his glory is plainly seen. I want to take a moment and reflect on Christ’s glory.

Christ’s glory. . .

Is from within (who he is) - He is radiance, Moses was reflector Hebrews 1:3 “3 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. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Christ’s glory is not dependent on anything, it is not from some other source, rather it is who he truly is.

The verb that Matthew and Mark use to describe this transformation (μεταμορφόω) does not imply that Jesus experienced any internal transformation as if he were deified at this moment. Instead, the term implies that the outer form now corresponded to Jesus’s inner essence, and Jesus once again manifested the glory that had characterized him before the incarnation

2. Outshines all of the law and prophets Moses is there, the great law giver who saw God and spoke to him as a friend. Moses’s face shown in the glory of God, but Moses was only a reflector of God’s glory, it was not from within. Moses was the spokesman for God to his people and is a representative of the law itself. Like Moses is a representative of the law, Elijah is the representative of the prophets. Their appearance here is startling, introduces with “behold” in v. 3. But even more startling than their appearance is the fact that Jesus is so much greater than they.

4. Reveals he is the Messiah King The glory cloud that overshadows them, the Father speaks and combines three passages of Scripture when he says, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him”

Psalm 2:7 “7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” - Savior of God’s people

Isaiah 42:1 “1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” - mediator of a new covenant

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 “18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” - prophet like Moses

Notice Peter’s response to this as well. Peter, like Jesus just taught, is ready to lay everything down and serve. He said it was good that they were there in v. 4 because he is ready to serve. Did Peter understand what was going on? Probably not to the fullest extent. But I believe this serves as an indicator of genuine faith. Genuine faith is not expressed with a theology degree—sure, I believe there is a hunger to know God more, but true faith is a willingness to lay down selfish ambition and live for Christ.

When the disciples hear the voice of God, like the Israelites in Exodus they are terrified and also recognize their need for a mediator. And there is Christ, the God-man, the perfect mediator between God and man telling them to rise and have no fear. Then the experience was over.

Relevance

When you get a taste of something really good, it makes you want more. Jesus gives just a taste of his true glory here. The fullness thereof to be seen in his resurrection, ascension and return.

It can seem as though a loss when we lay down our selfish ambitions. You may enter the self-denial that Jesus demands with a sense of grieving (though perhaps not). I remember when I was in high school, I had all my trophies on display. I had all my ribbons handing on my mirror. When I got a certificate for good grades and the character award at school, I hung it on my wall. A few years ago my dad was cleaning out his attic and brought me a box containing all my trophies. I looked through them all reminiscing about the different experiences, but I remember not wanting them anymore and tossed them away.

I think we find the same thing to be true when we come in contact with the glory of Christ. One of the puritans, Thomas Chalmers called it the expulsive power of a new affection. And the strange thing is, when we deny ourselves and pick up the cross we get a better glimpse of Christ’s glory and yearn for it all the more. But perhaps something other than our selfish ambitions prevent us from getting a good glimpse at the glory of Christ.

Suffering Glory

Matthew 17:9–13 ESV

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The ability to see the true glory of Christ demands his suffering.

Strangely after such a powerful display of the glory of Christ, the disciples find themselves discussing the end-time role of Elijah. The Scribes taught that Elijah would come first before the Messiah. Conservative Jews today still await the return of Elijah. But Jesus does correct their understanding. He argued that the prophecy of Malachi is correct and true, but the Scribes misunderstood it. Matthew explicitly identifies John the Baptist as Elijah. But Jesus turns this whole discussion into an object lesson about what must take place.

Notice again what he says in v. 12: Matthew 17:12 “12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.””

This is similar to 16:21 where Jesus says that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, and be killed. Here again in chapter 17 he says the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands. And this is the paradoxical thing about Christ’s work: that the crown only comes through the cross. Furthermore, the only way to see the fullness of Christ’s glory is through his suffering because his suffering brings about his glory.

Christ’s glory is in full display before us, yet sin can set up blinders so we do not see it and revel in it. We were made to bask in the light of his glory, but sin and shame and the devil would rather have us living in a damp, dark cave, clawing at the walls to find sunlight. Christ is not just everything we need, he’s all that we have. Yet we have the tendency to throw up the blinder of selfish ambition and miss the brilliance of the glory of Christ. Or, we ignore the suffering of our savior or numb ourselves to our own suffering and miss his true splendor.

Conclusion

Grief is a painful emotional response at the experience or feeling of loss. We may find grief in setting aside our selfish ambitions. We may feel grief when we think the Messiah should do this thing for us that he hasn’t promised. We may feel grief when Christ’s ambitions do not meet up with our ambitions. We may feel grief that the Messiah had to suffer a cruel death.

But that grief turns into overflowing joy when we get a glimpse of our savior. He is the one who satisfies our souls, nothing else will do. It is worth it to let go of everything and take hold of him.

How does selfish ambition bleed out in our lives?

Anger

Sadness/Depression

Fear/Anxiety

Dissatisfaction

How does Christ’s glory fill?

Calmness

Joy

Peace

Contentment

What can we do? Identify what we are holding on to, let go, and take hold of Christ’s glory.

Everything's on the altar now No holding back, no holding out In view of Your matchless sacrifice Take every treasure, take this life

Selfish ambition and my pride I'm giving up, I'm letting die In these empty hands I have it all, have it all The pure joy of knowing You, my Lord