“searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
and the glories that would follow
First the cross then the glory. First the cross then the crown.
“Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).
The “glory” is future,
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
We share his sufferings now but then we will share his glory (Ps. 73:24). We sing, “Only glory by and by.”
Some estimate that there are eight times as many prophecies of the second coming than the first coming (e.g., Ps 22,24,72; Isa 53).
Matthew 13 expounds on that period between the sufferings and the glory of Christ, the things that would take place between the two advents (comings) of Christ. The parables in Matthew 13 present a preview of the period of the church. Matthew 13:16,17 states that the Old Testament prophets wanted to see the glories of our day,
“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Old Testament prophets did not see the age of grace (Eph. 3:1f). They only saw the first and second comings.
There is no indication that anyone in the Old Testament had the personal status of sonship before God as New Testament Christians have,
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:6,7).
No one in the Old Testament could call the Father “Abba Father” or “Daddy.” They could not pray — “Father, my wife is going into surgery next week. If it pleases you, would you bring her through safely.”
PRINCIPLE:
God gives the New Testament Christian the privilege of the glories of sonship in this life.
APPLICATION:
There is no need to change the tone of your voice or assume an unnatural posture for God to hear us. It is normal for a child of God to speak to God as Father.
