A Word from 2 Corinthians 3

Do you remember the story of how God’s glory appeared to the Israelites when he gave them the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai? The Bible says, “there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled…and Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire” (Ex. 19:16-19).

However, as awe-inspiring as that kind of glory might be, today’s word from 2 Corinthians 3 says that it pales in comparison to the even greater glory that’s revealed in the suffering and saving love of our crucified Savior! “Now if the ministry that brought death—which was engraved in letters on stone—came with glory,” Paul says, “will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?” (3:7-8)

You see, as Paul says elsewhere, God’s commands are good—and were given to guide us. But they were never able to change us into the kind of people God made us to be. But now, because of what Jesus does for us through his cross and through His Spirit, we can finally be transformed! And the goal of that transformation is to become like him! Especially in the God-trusting, grace-giving, and sacrificially-loving life that he demonstrated when he died for us on Calvary. And that’s why Paul goes on to say: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (3:17-18)

Of course, there’s no better time “to contemplate the Lord’s glory” than in these days leading up to Easter. Because in them, we get to see how God’s love and holiness are perfectly revealed in the cross of Jesus. So today—and every day—may it be our desire to contemplate and follow him! So that as we become like him, God’s glory will show all the more clearly in a darkened world. Amen.