The phrase “we have beheld his glory” in John 1:14 refers to Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. This verse comes at the culmination of John’s poetic prologue about the divinity of Christ, and serves as a transition into the narrative story of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
The “we” in this phrase likely refers to the apostles and early disciples who physically witnessed and experienced Jesus firsthand. John, the author of this gospel, was among the inner circle of disciples who spent three years following Jesus, listening to his teaching, and witnessing his miracles and glory.
By using the word “beheld,” John emphasizes both the visual and experiential nature of witnessing Jesus’ glory during his earthly life and ministry. The disciples saw Jesus’ glory manifest through:
- His miraculous signs and wonders (John 2:11)
- His transfiguration on the mountain (John 1:14)
- His authority and wisdom in teaching (John 7:46)
- His power over death through the resurrection (John 20:8)
But Jesus’ glory was more than just visual splendor or displays of power. It was revealed through his gracious character – his compassion, mercy, humility, and self-giving love. The disciples experienced Jesus’ glory in an intimate, personal way as they walked with him daily, seeing his heart and character on display.
Most importantly, John says Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Grace refers to the undeserved favor that Jesus freely gives to sinful humanity. Truth refers to the perfect revelation of God that Jesus makes known to us. So the glory the disciples beheld was the very goodness, love, and redemptive character of God revealed in Christ.
John also makes a connection back to the Old Testament here. The phrase “we have beheld his glory” echoes the manifestation of God’s glory (Hebrew kabod) in the tabernacle and temple. Now, John declares, God’s glory is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the new, true dwelling place of God’s presence.
What does it mean, then, that the disciples beheld Jesus’ glory? Here are some key truths:
- Jesus Christ is the glorious and beloved Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- In becoming flesh, Jesus makes it possible for us to behold God’s glory – his character and redemptive work – up close.
- Those who walked with Jesus experienced his glory through his teaching, miracles, transfiguration, resurrection, and intimate friendship.
- Beholding Christ’s glory seals our testimony of his divine identity and compels us to believe in him.
- We behold Christ’s glory both visually and experientially as we walk in relationship with him.
- The glory of God in Christ evokes wonder, awe, joy, worship, and transformation in us.
John’s purpose in writing his gospel is so that future generations “may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). Though we do not physically see or touch Jesus as the first disciples did, we can still spiritually behold his glory today. By reading John’s eyewitness testimony, we gain “joy complete” and believe in the glory of God revealed in his Son (1 John 1:1-4). As we walk with Christ each day in faith and obedience, we continue to behold and reflect his glory to the world around us.
1. Jesus is the revelation of God’s glory
The opening verses of John emphasize Jesus as the divine Word of God, the agent of creation, the source of life and light (John 1:1-5). Jesus, who is fully God yet took on human flesh, is the greatest revelation of God’s glory. Several truths in John 1:14 highlight how Jesus definitively reveals God’s glory in a way no one else could:
- Jesus is the “only God” who is perfectly united with the Father (John 1:18). To see and know Christ is to see and know God himself (John 14:9).
- Jesus took on human flesh and dwelt among humanity, allowing God’s glory to be revealed up close in time and space.
- Jesus supremely displayed God’s grace and truth in how he taught, lived, died, and rose again.
- No one has ever seen God in his unveiled glory and lived (Exodus 33:20), but Christ’s incarnation allows us to behold God’s glory as much as humanly possible.
John declares even from birth, Christ’s glory shone brightly, despite his humble appearance: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Though the eternal Word humbled himself as a human baby, the light of his glory could not be hidden or overcome (John 1:5). His glory was revealed throughout his life and ministry.
2. The disciples beheld Jesus’ glory on earth
John emphasized that Jesus’ original disciples (including himself) were firsthand eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory. They physically saw, heard, and touched Jesus during his earthly ministry (1 John 1:1-3). Here are some occasions where the disciples beheld Jesus’ glory:
- Miraculous signs: Jesus performed incredible miracles like turning water to wine (John 2:1-12), feeding 5000 people (John 6:1-15), healing the blind (John 9:1-41), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45). His disciples saw clear glimpses of his glory and power through these signs.
- Transfiguration: Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transfigured in radiance on the mountain, showing his divine glory (John 1:14). God’s voice declared, “This is my beloved Son!” (Luke 9:28-36)
- Triumphal entry: At Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, the crowds erupted in praise at the manifest glory and kingship of Christ (John 12:12-19).
- Crucifixion and resurrection: Despite Jesus’ humble suffering and death, John still saw glimpses of his glory – when Jesus declared “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and when the tomb was empty on resurrection morning (John 20:1-9).
Most of all, the disciples beheld Jesus’ glory in an intimate, day-to-day context as they lived with him. They observed his sinless character, compassionate heart, courage, kindness, wisdom, patience, and devotion to the Father. Though he was also fully human, his divine glory shone through it all.
3. Jesus’ glory revealed God’s grace and truth
According to John 1:14, the glory the disciples witnessed in Jesus was defined by “grace and truth.” As the embodiment of God’s glory, Jesus perfectly expressed these attributes:
- Grace: Jesus freely extended love, mercy, and salvation to undeserving sinners. Though mankind deserved judgment for sin, Christ brought grace and redemption instead (John 3:16-17).
- Truth: Jesus flawlessly revealed God’s character and will. He spoke God’s words, not his own (John 8:28, 12:49). He made God known with perfect accuracy, as only the Son of God could do.
Grace and truth stood at the heart of God’s glory revealed in Christ. The disciples experienced Jesus’ grace through forgiveness, healing, kindness, patience. They saw his truth through his divine wisdom, fulfillment of prophecy, moral perfection and authority to declare God’s truth.
4. Beholding Christ’s glory transforms us
John wrote so that all may hear his eyewitness testimony of Christ’s glory and believe (John 20:30-31). What is the impact on those who spiritually behold Christ’s glory, though they did not physically see him on earth?
- It instills faith and confidence in Christ’s true identity and salvation.
- It moves us to worship. Just as Christ’s miracles stirred worship and awe in the eyewitnesses (John 2:11), so should his glory impact us.
- It motivates us to follow him. Walking in Christ’s footsteps is how we continue to behold his glory now.
- It transforms us into his image. As we “behold his glory as of the only Son from the Father” we are being “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- It will one day be the sight that moves us to rejoice around God’s throne forever, praising the glory of Christ (Revelation 5:11-14).
John’s first epistle indicates that the impact of beholding Christ’s glory – even by eyewitness testimony – leads to great “joy complete” in the believer (1 John 1:1-4). This joy, awe, faith and transformation is no less real for those who know Christ by faith rather than sight.
5. We behold Christ’s glory by the Spirit now
Since Jesus ascended into heaven, how can we behold his glory spiritually today? Here are key ways:
- Through the Holy Spirit who reveals Christ’s glory to us (John 16:12-15).
- By seeking him in Scripture, where the eyewitness testimony about him is recorded (John 20:30-31).
- Through communion with God in prayer and worship (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- By reflecting Christ’s character as we walk in godliness by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
- By doing greater works than Christ as his Spirit empowers our witness (John 14:12).
- In proclaiming the gospel, as we spread the truth of Christ’s glory and what he accomplished.
- By experiencing breakthroughs, healings, provision as we rely on Christ’s power and glory manifested through us.
While we await seeing Christ face to face in fullness at his second coming (1 John 3:2), we can still behold his glory each day as we walk with him by faith as his disciples. He remains Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23), through his indwelling Spirit.
6. We will one day behold Christ’s glory fully
Someday Christ’s followers will behold his glory in its fullness. Scripture gives us glimpses of that glorious culmination:
- We will see him “face to face” and “know fully even as we have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
- We will appear with Christ “in glory” (Colossians 3:4) and “see him as he is” in glorified perfection (1 John 3:2).
- We will behold the glorious New Jerusalem, radiant with God’s presence (Revelation 21:10-11, 23).
- Heaven’s citizens will walk by Christ’s light, and the Lord himself will be their lamp – illuminating the glory of God for eternity (Revelation 21:23-24).
- We will participate in and behold Christ’s glory and rule over the renewed creation (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 22:5).
Beholding Christ’s full glory will evoke wonder, joy, and eternal praise in us. Just as the disciples experienced the life-changing impact of beholding his glory on earth, how much more will the fullness of his glory ravish our hearts forever?
John’s closing prayer captures the eternal impact of beholding Christ’s glory: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory” (John 17:24). This is the gloriously full beholding that awaits all believers.
7. We are called to reflect Christ’s glory
A final application of John 1:14 is that followers of Jesus are called to reflect his glory to the world, just as Moses reflected God’s glory after encountering him on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:29-35). We reflect Christ’s glory when, by the Spirit, we manifest these realities:
- Grace – As we extend undeserved blessing, forgiveness, help and love to others.
- Truth – As we speak truthfully, live authentically, and shine the light of Christ through our witness.
- Hope – As we point others to salvation and eternal life in Christ (Colossians 1:27).
- Peace – As we represent the peace of Christ (John 14:27) in turmoil.
- Joy – As we radiate Christ’s own joy (John 15:11).
- Wisdom and knowledge – As we draw on Christ’s wisdom in how we think, speak, and serve.
- Righteousness – As we obey God’s commands and call others to repent and believe.
- God’s power – As we rely on spiritual gifts and Christ’s power in us (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
In all this, we act as mirrors magnifying God’s light. Jesus said we are the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), reflecting his glory. Paul spoke of believers shining “like stars in the sky” by holding fast to the word of life (Philippians 2:15). As we grow in reflecting Christ’s character, we manifest more of the “knowledge of the glory of God” to the world around us (2 Corinthians 4:6).
8. Key themes and summary of what it means to behold Christ’s glory
Here are some key themes about what it means that the original disciples beheld Christ’s glory according to John 1:14:
- Jesus supremely reveals God’s glory in the world through his incarnation.
- The disciples visually observed and personally experienced Jesus’ miraculous glory while he walked on earth.
- Central to Christ’s glory was that he embodied God’s grace and truth perfectly.
- Beholding Christ’s glory leads to faith, worship, transformation, and joy.
- We continue to behold Christ’s glory by the Spirit through God’s word, prayer, obedience, and reflecting God’s character.
- One day we will eternally behold Christ’s unveiled glory in heaven, to our endless blessing.
- We are called to reflect Christ’s glory to the world through our character and witness.
In summary, the eyewitness testimony of Christ’s disciples affirms that Jesus is the divine Son from the Father who supremely reveals God’s glory through his incarnation. Though Christ humbled himself as a man, those who saw him up close testified that they beheld his glory – the very presence and redemptive character of God – expressed in his words, deeds, death and resurrection.
The glory of God embodied in Christ evokes worship, joy, and saving faith in all who behold him by faith. We do not have to walk physically with Jesus to experience the spiritual impact of his glory. By the Spirit, through Scripture, and as we reflect Christlike character, we continue to behold his glory and are transformed as we walk with him daily. The glory the first disciples tasted points us ahead to the greater glory we will experience eternally when we see Jesus face to face.