“But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
that when His glory is revealed
The word “that” connotes a purpose clause. The purpose of our joy goes to the point when Christ comes again. We keep eternal values given our suffering. We suffer now, but when we see the Lord, we will be exceptionally blessed when we see him. The Christian’s future is a basis for hope.
Ro 8:18-19, “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. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”
“Is revealed” signifies to unveil, to uncover, to cause something to be fully known. It means to reveal or to disclose who Jesus truly is. “Is revealed” in Greek is not a verb but a noun. Literally, the phrase reads, “in the revealing of His glory.” The revealing of his glory is the unveiling of the truth of who Jesus is in his coming.
Note how Peter weaves together both the suffering and the glory of the coming of Christ. First comes the grief, then the glory. The glory has not yet been revealed. When he comes in glory, our glory will be revealed as well. When the glory of Jesus is revealed, our glory will be revealed. In the meantime, we suffer with him. Some suffer for him.
1 Jn 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
PRINCIPLE:
There is glory in knowing that the history of suffering will culminate with the coming of Christ.
APPLICATION:
We face the reproach of Christ, the offense of the cross, and the afflictions of the gospel. We must deal with these three ugly experiences. We deal with them by keeping the coming of Christ in view. God reveals his glory in persecution.
He 11:26, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
Ga 5:11, “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.”
2 Ti 1:8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”
Jesus’ “glory” is his essence as manifested at his coming. Believers will see that glory at the rapture, and non-believers will see it at his Second Coming (Mt 19:28; 25:31).
