Mirrors of Christ

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (II Corinthians 3:18).

The Dispensation of Revelation

The revelations of Himself which God makes in Christ are intended, not only to reveal, but to create and multiply revelations. God reveals Himself to us in Christ, but the process of revelation does not end here. Christ Himself is no longer personally revealed among us, but He is being revealed in us. The revelation of Christ is not merely an historical revelation of the past, it is a living revelation of the present. Those to whom Christ reveals Himself become those in whom He reveals Himself; for it is now as it was of old—wherever Jesus is, He cannot be hid.

Indeed, we may say the various specific revelations of Himself which Jesus makes are reflected from and revealed in the lives and characters of those to whom He makes them. We see Jesus the Savior as much revealed today in the joy and triumph of young Christians who have found, in Him salvation and peace, as ever He was in the stable of Bethlehem of old. Nay, we learn more of what a glorious Savior He is from these revelations of today than the Shepherds ever knew. The jubilant soul, delivered from the yoke of sin and the fear of doom, bears a no less eloquent testimony to the existence of a Savior, and the reality and beneficent purpose of His mission, than did those Angels who sang of “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men” (Luke 2:14).

We still may see Jesus the King not less clearly, nay, far more distinctly, than did the Magi of old, when we find human hearts and lives submitted to His control, and His orders obeyed, and His supremacy recognized at any cost by His loyal and obedient followers; and we learn to admire and worship Him as King with all the more intelligent appreciation when we see the blessed results of His authority on those who have completely surrendered themselves to it, and rejoice in it as in “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).