24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
I am reminded of the following verses in Isaiah 40:
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 40:3-5 (NIV)
Make no bones about it, our Lord will be revealed in all of His glory – His unique splendor will be made manifest so that every eye will see. It is a fixed certainty - “For the mouth of the Lord has spoken”. The Word of the Lord is sure, definite, and reliable and furthermore, cannot be broken:
89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalms 119:89 (NIV)
6 "I the LORD do not change. Mal 3:6 (NIV)
The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible gives us the following insight:
“The same Jesus who ascended to heaven will come again (Acts 1:11) at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). He will overthrow the Antichrist by the breath of His mouth and destroy his evil work by the splendor of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Christ is now reigning as Lord at God’s right hand (Hebrews 12:2), sharing God’s throne (Revelation 3:21). Although His authority is not readily discerned by the world at the present time, it will be made visible by His ‘apokalypsis’, or revelation (2 Thessalonians 1:7). The power and glory that Christ possesses will then be unveiled and disclosed to the world.”
Amen and Amen! Jesus also sets forth before us in the verses for today our pathway to ultimate glory which is the path through suffering – a suffering, I might add, that is done on the behalf of someone else. Rejected and refused by His own, our Savior dies to save those who spat upon Him, scourged Him and ultimately crucified Him.
"Somehow in the wonder-working providence of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose, our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for the furtherance of the gospel." Robert J. Morgan
“Every hour we make decisions on whether or not to be to others what Christ has been to us.” Wales Goebel
Peter echoes this point:
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)
Paul tells us in Romans 8:
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:17-18 (NIV)
“Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.” Charles Spurgeon
“Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.” “The next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, ‘How can I get out of this mess?’ try asking, ‘How can God be glorified in this situation?’” Robert J. Morgan
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
“In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing.” Charles H. Spurgeon