³² … if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.

Secondly, “God is glorified in Him.” “He has explained Him,” John writes in his account (John 1:18). The word “explained” means to fully bring out the essence of something, to “exegete” it. Jesus has helped us see God more clearly, how great He is.

Third, “God will glorify Him in Himself.” If God is indeed seen most clearly in Jesus, then God will in the future continue to do the same thing, namely, to use Christ as a magnifying glass through whom He Himself is seen more clearly. In other words, glory gives rise to more glory. And as we grow in our understanding and knowledge of Him and His glory (2 Peter 3:18) we are “…being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18 emphasis added). Mundane life for us is profoundly changed, and changed continually as we grow in Christ.

Christ’s glory reveals His absolute perfection. For anything less, a magnifying glass reveals imperfections. Examining a beautiful flower closely shows the many imperfections not seen in a casual glance or by the naked eye. But when Christ magnifies God, we see only endless perfection. Just as scientists in their study of the human body find increasingly complex and beautiful design, bone and muscle placements, connections, arrangements, cells, DNA, atoms, sub-atomic particles—through Christ we see the absolutely astounding beauty and flawless perfection of God. There are no aberrations. The more we search for God in Christ, the more we discover untold, unimaginable wonder. While at a general level the universe declares His glory (Rom 1:19-20) (the contemplation of which can be overwhelming considering the vastness and wonder of the universe), Christ brings details into focus like a telescope, or enlarges like a microscope that which we couldn’t see otherwise. And at every level God is seen to be completely and absolutely perfect.

Now, here is the third movement of glory: God will continue to magnify Christ in God Himself, so that in turn God Himself will be glorified (yes, I know that can sound confusing). It is like making a big deal about an extremely high resolution camera because it shows great detail of the object. Like glorifying the mirror in a telescope or the lens in a microscope that help you see the details so much more clearly and accurately. God will glorify Christ and continue to do so, because it will help us see God Himself better.

Father, when I contemplate Your perfections as seen in Your Son, I am overwhelmed with how perfect He is. Help me to stay focused on Him.