In the last Nugget I took time to show you how and why Paul sets Glory in the midst of Pain, Suffering, Grief and Brokenness. Most of us have no idea why bad things happen to good people. Why young children suffer illnesses that were never God’s intention they experience. I hope you have seen from the last Nugget that God does indeed use pain, suffering, grief and brokenness to both show us His Glory and even more forge it within us. I showed you a glimpse of the unfolding nature of glory as Moses experienced it. But notice for a moment how Paul concludes his explanation at the end of 2 Corinthians 3.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. [ASV]2 Cor 3:18
So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit. [CJB]2 Cor 3:18
As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. [GW}
2 Cor 3:18
Do you see that we are on a journey with God so that He can work His glory into us? Stop and think for a moment of the unfolding nature of God’s glory across the length and breadth of the Bible. Allow me to take you on a journey. A Glory Journey. It began with God showing His Glory to Moses at his request on Mt Sinai. I took you through the steps of that last week on the top of Mt Sinai – the Glory Mountain. But the revelation of God’s glory is a motif that extends throughout Scripture. It starts with the Tent of Meeting. What happened there? God’s glory came down and the brightness of Moses’ face was blinding. Joshua saw it from a distance as God met with Moses, and so he lingered in order to enter into the fading glory after Moses and God had left the Tent of Meeting. From the Tent of Meeting we move to the Tabernacle, that temporary structure carried with them and put up each time they stopped on their journey. What happened then? God’s glory would come and fill the Tabernacle. The next step in the unfolding revelation of God’s glory was the Temple. Once the Temple was constructed according to instructions given by God, the Temple was consecrated to God. What happened? God’s glory came and filled the Temple. Are you seeing the pattern? What is the next step in the unfolding revelation? Us! The motif throughout the Old Testament is that God would dwell with HIs people and His glory would rest upon them and be within them. After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the Spirit of God now inhabits His people. God’s glory comes to dwell in the hearts of His people. (I am not stopping to give you all the references. I will leave that task for you to do. It would make the focus of a worthwhile, on-going Bible study.) Just follow the Glory trail.
Now let me move us on to consider what we do as His people. We catch momentary glimpses of God’s glory throughout our lives. What do we do when we see the glory? Exactly the same as Peter, James and John. Look at all three accounts of the Transfiguration in the synoptic Gospels (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Go to E-Sword in any one of those synoptic references and then click the <Harmony> feature. You will see that each of the synoptic Gospels record the suggestion of Peter that they build booths (shelters) to capture the moment. That is exactly what each of us does when we encounter a glory moment with God. Be it at a conference, a retreat, a prayer meeting, alone in our own worship moment – our reaction is still the same as Peter’s. We want to enshrine the moment and not return to real life. Not go back down the mountain and return to normal life, back to reality. We want to hold on to and replicate the glory moment we have just experienced. Look at what happened after the Transfiguration! The disciples were confronted with human need again after the glory moment. Have you realised that the shelters referred to are the same booths of the Feast of Booths. At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the people of Israel would go out into the fields and God’s glory would come among them. Friends, we are meant to take the glory with us! We are the new temples of God. Are you getting the big picture? Do you see the unfolding nature of God’s glory coming among us? Do you see why it was that Jesus met on the mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah? Moses and Elijah were the prophets associated with the coming of the glory of God. Of course they would be there.
Notice that Paul hints at the fact that there is a journey we have to take in order to experience the Glory. There is always more to the depth of truth in God. I keep passing on the message my Greek Professor hammered into us. “Class, there’s always more to God’s revelation.” “Ian, there’s always more to God’s revelation.” Notice again Paul’s comment in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
ἡμεῖς δὲ πάντες ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ προσώπῳ τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου κατοπτριζόμενοι τὴν αὐτὴν εἰκόνα μεταμορφούμεθα ἀπὸ δόξης εἰς δόξαν, καθάπερ ἀπὸ Κυρίου Πνεύματος.
we but all {having been unveiled} {with face} the glory {of the Lord} {as beholding in a mirror} the same image {are being changed} from glory to glory {even as} from {the Lord} Spirit
(ASV) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
(BBE) But we all, with unveiled face giving back as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(CEV) So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.
(CJB) So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit.
(ERV) And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
(GNB) All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.
(GW) As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(ISV) As all of us reflect the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, we are becoming more like him with ever-increasing glory by the Lord’s Spirit.
(JUB) Therefore we all, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord with uncovered face, are transformed from glory to glory into the same likeness, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(KJV) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(LITV) But we all with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord Spirit.
(MKJV) But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit.
(MSG) All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
(Murdock) And we all, with uncovered faces, behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Lord the Spirit.
(NLT) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
(RV) But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
(TLB) But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.
(TLV) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(TPT) We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(TS2009) And we all, as with unveiled face we see as in a mirror the esteem of יהוה, are being transformed into the same likeness from esteem to esteem, as from יהוה, the Spirit
Have you picked up on what is happening here? Paul is connecting us to an analogy from the Old Testament which indicates we are on a journey from glory to glory. Allow me to pick out for you the portion from the above verse to highlight what Paul is giving us.
- transformed from glory to glory
- changed from glory to glory
- made more and more like our glorious Lord
- changed from one degree of glory to the next
- we are being changed; this change in us brings more and more glory
- being transformed from one degree of glory to another
- transforms us into an ever greater degree of glory
- we are being changed with ever-increasing glory
- transformed from glory to glory
- we are transfigured like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful
- reflecting the glory of the Lord; makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image
- [He] works within us, we become more and more like him
- Oh yes the end result for us all is to be changed into the likeness of Christ, who only and always reflected the glory of God.
- being transfigured . . . we move from one brighter level of glory to another
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!”
John 17:22-24
Is it clear enough now?
- I have given them the glory you gave me
- I am in them and you are in me
- Then they can see all the glory you gave me. . .
Oh there is more to come but with all the detail I have given you here, it’s time for me to stop or I will have some of you complaining the Nugget is too long. As you wait for the next Nugget I wonder if you can detect what Paul has in mind when he talks of this journey to every increasing glory? Not only that, but do you see clearly the means or the mechanism which God uses to produces this glory? Is it clear to you now? It all comes with unveiled faces. When the outer veil, shell, envelope, pot has been stripped away. Yes, God’s glory comes through pain, suffering, grief and brokenness. Who would have thought it? Do you now see an analogy between this journey of ours, his followers, with the pathway Jesus took? Oh the similarities between this and That Majestic Passage are astounding.
I will share the link to the Old Testament passage in the next Nugget.
oh to walk in the footsteps of a good man (Proverbs 3:6)
Paul? Moses? Jesus? or Ross perhaps?