Beholding Christ’s Glory!
Sermon March 2, 2025 Beholding Christ’s Glory!
Pastor Fred Okello
This week, I found myself reflecting on the phrase, “Radiance or Glory of the Lord.” I questioned whether this was a common phenomenon or simply an abstract phrase. I wanted to believe that, even for native English speakers, it might sound vague or mystical. What does it really mean for God's radiance to be upon someone? Is it merely a supernatural glow, or is it something more tangible, something more transformative?
According to Holman Bible Dictionary, the radiance of the Lord is the visible manifestation of God’s presence, power, and holiness. In Scripture, this radiance often appears as light, fire, or a bright glow that signifies divine presence. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, his face shone so brightly that the Israelites were afraid to come near him (Exodus 34:29-35). In Luke 9:28-36, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, John, and James, and His face and clothes became dazzling white. In as much as the disciples wanted to build them booths, this was not just about protection but about revelation and transformation—a glimpse of divine glory that changes those who witness it.
One of the most powerful biblical examples of God’s protective radiance is found in the Exodus story. When the Israelites were fleeing Egypt, Pharaoh and his army pursued them. In that critical moment, the pillar of cloud that had been leading the Israelites moved to the back, forming a barrier between them and the Egyptians (Exodus 14:19-20). To the Egyptians, it was darkness; to the Israelites, it was light. God Himself had formed a wedge of protection, shielding His people from harm. This divine presence was a radiant fire, a barrier that no enemy could breach.
For five years while I was here in the U.S., I believed that God was shielding my family in ways beyond human comprehension. I was physically distant, unable to be there in person, but I imagined the fire of the Lord surrounding my home—an impenetrable wall that no enemy could touch. I knew God was forming a divine wedge of protection around my loved ones. This belief sustained and reassured me that God's radiance was not just a light that shone but a presence that guarded, guided, and preserved.
However, in Exodus 34 and Luke 9, the radiance of God is far more than protection. It is not just how much we are feared or how secure we feel—it is how much we become a light for others. When Moses came down the mountain, his radiance was not a sign of God’s wrath but a testimony of God’s holiness and covenant. When Jesus was transfigured, His radiance was not for self-preservation but to reveal the deeper reality of His mission—a mission that led Him to suffer, die, and rise again for the sake of others.
And so, to radiate the glory of the Lord is not just to bask and swim in divine favor or protection. It is to become vulnerable for the sake of others—to lay down our lives in service, to bless, to heal, and to transform. The true radiance of Christ is not in His invincibility but in His willingness to be broken for others.
Therefore, brethren, as we begin this Lenten season, let us embody the Lord’s radiance? But how do we do that?
By Living a Life of Holiness – When we dwell in God’s presence through prayer, worship, and obedience, we begin to reflect His light.
By Being a Blessing to Others – The glory of God is not just about revelation but about transformation. Who are we healing? Who are we lifting up?
By Becoming Vulnerable for Others – Our impact is not measured by how protected we are, but by how willing we are to serve and suffer for others.
May the fire of the Lord not only shield us but shape us into vessels of His love, grace, and transformation. Amen.