Verse By Verse Devotional by Pastor Jack on 2 Corinthians #95

The Face and the Spirit (4:6)

4:3-6 "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 FOR GOD, WHO SAID, “LIGHT SHALL SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS,” IS THE ONE WHO HAS SHONE IN OUR HEARTS TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF CHRIST."

In the OLD covenant, the glory of God shone in the face of Moses. But it was met by resistance and fear: the Israelites insisted that Moses cover his face with a veil so they would not have to look upon the glory on his face (Exod.34:30-35). The glory on Moses’ face did not last. Symbolic of the fading nature of the old covenant, the glory faded from his face (2Cor.3:7-13).

But now in the NEW covenant the glory of God shines perfectly and permanently in the face of Jesus Christ. Not only this, but the Lord by His Spirit has worked "in our hearts" so that the glory of the Face is not resisted or feared, but adored and appreciated.

This reaffirms what we’ve already learned about the superiority of the new covenant over the old covenant:

1- The glory of God is revealed more completely -- in the person and work of Christ.

2- The Spirit works more in human hearts -- such that the fuller glory receives a fuller reception.

We live in the age of Christ. We live in the day of the fullness of the revelation of the grace of God. "Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." (Matt.13:17) We need to appreciate the glorious Light who has come to us.

We also live in the age of the Holy Spirit. We live in the day of the Light of God being made to shine in the darkness of our hearts. "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven... Blessed are your eyes, because they see..." (Matt.13:11, 16). We need to appreciate that we have been given eyes to see Him.

Faithful and all-gracious Father, I praise You for eyes to see and for a glorious Savior to behold. Please help me to grasp the depth and the height and the length and the breadth of Your glory revealed in His face. May my heart be captivated by His beauty. I want to spend the rest of my life as His enthralled devotee.