The Glory Changes Everything

What happens when God’s glory is revealed? Radical change, and there’s no going back. How we view the world is changed. How we view ourselves and the people around us is changed. The manifestation of God’s glory reveals the Kingdom of Heaven in a tangible way, and you can’t un-experience it. You are radically changed, inside and out.

In John 2:1-12, we see the story of Jesus’ first public miracle, when He turns water into wine. The disciples were already following Jesus because He seemed like a pretty cool guy, but then suddenly He manifested His glory. Verse 11 says, “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.” They followed Jesus; but then when He manifested His glory by turning water into wine, they believed in Him.

In John 2, we’re told that the master of the feast “tasted” and was shocked by how good it was. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” Exodus 24:17 says the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire in the sight of the people. His glory is visible. The Hebrew word for glory means weightiness. His glory is HEAVY. His glory is fully experiential. When His glory is manifested, people don’t musingly wonder, “Hmmm… Did I just experience glory?” It’s not theoretical or philosophical. His glory is undeniable and unforgettable.

Jesus transformed around 180 gallons of completely normal water into the most delicious wine people had ever tasted. The average wine bottle is 750 milliliters. The amount of wine Jesus created would be more than 900 bottles. Wow… Go big or go home! That’s our abundant and excessive God of the leftovers and more than enough. His action wasn’t just a party trick. It was shocking and life changing. And it was delicious! I guarantee that the party picked up when everyone started tasting the wine.

HIS GLORY RADICALLY CHANGES EVERYTHING!

Mary, Jesus’ mother, told Him that the wine was out. Jesus famously replies (John 2:4), “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” The direct from Greek translation says, “What to Me and to you, woman? Not yet is come the hour of Me.” Jesus is actually saying, “What will this miracle do to Me and to you, woman? Until now, I have not been revealed.”

Jesus doesn’t call Mary “mother” but “woman”. This public heavenly action would cause a dramatic shift in their lives and in their relationship. He and His time would no longer belong to her as a parent. She would become one of many siblings in the redeemed household of God (Matthew 12:48-50, Luke 11:27-28). Jesus is asking Mary, “Are you ready for the radical shift of My hour?” The paradigm of family would change completely once the Kingdom came into manifestation. She would no longer be “Mom” but sibling, and Jesus would no longer be just her son but the First Born Son of God. There would be no turning back from this moment of launch.

What was Mary’s response to Jesus? She directed those around her to hear and obey Jesus. Mary told the servants (John 2:5), “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary’s response is perfect in positioning Jesus Christ as the Head, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The manifestation of glory would radically overturn the world’s pyramid system of leadership. The servant of all would become the greatest of all. And Mary said, “Do whatever He tells you.”

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” — Matthew 23:8-12 NLT

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” — John 14:26 NLT

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. — 1 John 2:27 NLT

The goal of every disciple is to make disciples. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Just as mothers care for their children with the goal of them becoming healthy and Jesus-focused adults, each of us guides, guards, and grows others to be healthy disciples. And each of us must accept and endorse the radical shift that removes the worldly hierarchy. Deacon means table server. In the ekklesia, the leaders are servants. There are no pharaohs or popes. We are the body of Christ, not a hydra with multiple heads. Our one head is Jesus.

This is a revelation that changes everything. When Jesus Christ is revealed, we know Him as the heavenly anointed Son of God who came to save the world. He’s not just a historical figure or a nice guy. He is my Savior and Lord. And by faith we are born again, including Mary. In her new birth, she would not bear her title and role as “mother” but as sibling to the First Born and coheir with Christ. Parents and children all become siblings under one Good Father.

Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” — John 2:6-7a NLT

The six massive stone jars were special and holy. They were used for ceremonial purification. They were filled with holy water. But then Jesus miraculously transformed the water into perfect wine. He served up a whole lot of holy wine. Six is the number of man. The stone jars represent humanity made holy by the washing of the Word. The new wine is Holy Spirit. Jesus said (Jon 3:5), “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” When redeemed humans are filled with the Spirit, God’s glory is put on display and everything changes.

The master of ceremonies said, “A host always serves the best wine first. Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This is a prophetic word. God is in the business of saving the best for last and the greatest for the least.

“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.“ — Haggai 2:9a ESV

“And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.” — Job 8:7 ESV

“The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” — Isaiah 60:22 ESV

“‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.’” — Acts 2:17-18 NLT

In these last days, we are believing for the latter rain, the greatest outpouring. When Mary goes to Jesus and says there is no more wine, this could be an observation of the modern church. The party is great, but there’s no life. We have plenty of stone jars full of the Word, but no power. Jesus says, “If I manifest My glory here, it will change everything. Are you ready for that?” How would you answer Jesus? Are you ready for the glory of God to radically change everything?

Seeking His face!
Matt