May 11

This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples. — John 15:8 BSB

When Jesus Christ was on earth, He was in a state of suffering, and all His people must be conformed to that same image of suffering. Through His suffering, Jesus brought glory to God, and now He is exalted at the right hand of the Father. In the same way, those who suffer with Him will also be glorified with Him, and their glory will be radiant, shining like the stars forever, as they bear the glorified image of the Son of God. The Apostle Paul assures us, “When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

The Lord did not take on the nature of angels, so He did not glorify or adorn angelic nature. Instead, by assuming human nature—flesh and blood—into union with His divine person, He bestowed an unparalleled glory upon it. This is the foundation upon which a redeemed sinner brings glory to God—not through anything of themselves, but as members of Christ, as part of His body, His flesh, and His bones.

What an astonishing thought it is that even the lowliest believer brings more glory to God than the highest angel, and that the suffering obedience of a saint is of greater value than the fervent obedience of a seraph. Bringing glory to God should be our highest goal and deepest desire. The Lord impresses this upon His disciples’ hearts: “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” Bearing a small amount of fruit brings little glory to God, but the more rich and ripe fruit we produce as branches of the vine, the more glory we bring to Him.