The title for this book, “Beholding His Glory”, is derived from two of the many precious verses in John’s Gospel:

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld His glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth”
Jn.1.14

“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me,
be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory,
which Thou hast given Me: for thou lovedst Me
before the foundation of the world”
Jn.17.24

In addition to these, several other verses from this Gospel speak of the Lord Jesus Christ being seen. Reading through it we come across not only “behold” and “beheld”, but also kindred words, such as “see”, “seen”, “seeing”, “saw”, “manifest”, “manifested”, “shew” and “shewed”. Hence the subtitle of this latest ‘Glory’ book: “Viewing Christ in John’s Gospel”.

The thought of people looking upon our Saviour is a recurring theme of John the apostle, as is demonstrated also in his other writings. He opens his First Epistle by looking back: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)” 1Jn.1.1,2. At the end of the Bible, in the closing chapter of Revelation, he looks away ahead to the eternal future and writes: “they shall see His face” Rev.22.4.

This subject is extensive in the Gospel of John. For example, as the two quotations at the head of this Introduction illustrate, the references to His own ones beholding Him take in both the past, on earth, and the future, in heaven. In addition, while most of the references under consideration are to seeing Him bodily, by the physical eye, there are instances where seeing Him physically illustrates seeing Him spiritually, for example, in the case of the blind man in John chapter 9. As well as direct links from the literal to the spiritual, we also find allusions to such matters. This is illustrated in the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus, John chapter 3, in which He draws on the fact that everyone who beheld the serpent on the pole lived, Numbers chapter 21, to present to this religious man the great truth that all who look by faith upon the Son of man lifted up on the cross will have eternal life.

This book is not a comprehensive commentary on John’s Gospel, many parts of which are not covered in this volume. For example, the reader will note the absence of any material from the ‘Upper Room Ministry’, chapters 13 to 16. This is because that part of John’s Gospel was considered extensively in an earlier publication, “The Glory of Last Words”. It will also be observed that other well-known features of John’s Gospel are not fully covered. For example, the majority of the seven “I am” sayings and of the seven signs are not dealt with.

Rather, this book is intended to be mainly of a ‘devotional’ nature, based on the theme of beholding the Lord Jesus Christ. At the head of each chapter there is a short quotation from John’s Gospel, which is then developed according to the exercise of each individual writer. The chapters are in the same order as that in which each quotation appears in the Gospel of John.

As far as the quotations of Scriptures in this book are concerned, if an individual Bible book is not specified then the reader should assume that the book referred to is John’s Gospel. For example, “19.35” means John chapter 19 verse 35. Also, if a verse reference is given without any other detail, then it should be taken that the verse is from the chapter under discussion. For example, if the passage being discussed is from John chapter 1, then “v.29” means John chapter 1 verse 29.

As we consider passages from this beautiful and much-loved Gospel, it is our prayer that we will in truth behold Him and His glory: not just see Him, but fix our eyes upon Him, in adoration and worship. And may God grant that thus we will be drawn out in ever greater love and devotion to Him, our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“We would see Jesus” John 12.21

 

We would see Jesus, for the shadows lengthen

Across this little landscape of our life;

We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen

For the last weariness, the final strife.

 

We would see Jesus, the great rock foundation

Whereon our feet were set with sovereign grace;

Nor life nor death, with all their agitation,

Can thence remove us, if we see His face.

 

We would see Jesus; other lights are paling,

Which for long years we have rejoiced to see;

The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing;

We would not mourn them, for we go to Thee.

 

We would see Jesus: this is all we’re needing;

Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight;

We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;

Then welcome day, and farewell mortal night.

      (Anna Bartlett Warner)

David McAllister, Ireland, February 2025