August 7, 2013
2 Cor. 3:18 …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.
The truth in this verse is one that overwhelms me with its wonder. We are being transformed into the image of Jesus! It is a glory greater than that which illuminated Moses’ face, on which his people dared not look. We see in one another that image, reflected from one to another and as each grows in holiness, so the church grows ever more beautiful — the bride preparing herself for her Husband.
“All we, with open faces” — other translations make the meaning clearer. “Open faces” is “unveiled”. The idea is that before Jesus, believers, the Jews dare not look unveiled on the face of God, but now, believers “all we (Christians)” need no such defense. Then, we are “beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord” — we are seeing the image of God and, like the unveiled Moses, we are being imprinted with the glory of that image! Does that not make you gasp in wonder? Has someone ever said to you, “there’s something different about you … I don’t know what it is …”? In your best moments perhaps, like the Jews of old, they are glimpsing that reflection of glory. Does that strike into your heart the fear that you should ever reflect anything but honor back to Him whose image you bear? As I think about this, perhaps for the first time I understand why I should work out my own salvation with fear and trembling!
“We are changed” — like Jesus with Moses and Elijah, we are being transfigured (the same Greek word is used). We are “changed into the same image”. Changed, into the image of Jesus …does it not bring you near to tears at the holiness of the thought? Man was made in His image, and the image, corrupted in us by sin, is being restored.
“Changed … from glory to glory”. Perhaps a double meaning. The first idea is that glory is being multiplied from God to us (I’m sorry that I could not find a better way to say it, but “transferred” and “copied” don’t quite catch the idea of the spreading of unlimited glory to every Christian). The second idea is that the process is by steps. As we go through life, little by little, so we grow more like Jesus.
I really did not expect this devotion to be a phrase by phrase reflection on the verse, but as I contemplated it, so the understanding of the promise became richer … and so we come to the last phrase “even as by the Spirit of The Lord.” It is the Holy Spirit that works in us … but this last verse, this last truth cannot be read in isolation (of course no verse can really be read in isolation!) It must be taken with the previous verse … “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Here is the intimate association of Jesus with the Holy Spirit. By His sacrifice, He has made our salvation possible. By His work He makes our sanctification actual. Grace upon grace! Glory upon glory! He is wonderful, and all His works are marvelous. Praise Him!
Amen.