#DailyDevotion Have You Had Your Veiled Removed By Turning To Jesus?
Easter Week 3 Wednesday
Read Ex 34:29—35:21
Exo 34:29-30 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. (30) Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
When Moses talked with the Lord, his countenance changed. The glory of the Lord whom he spoke to changed him and his face shone. The people were afraid of Moses and wouldn’t come close to him so he had to wear a veil to cover his face so the people would not fear him. Concern this St. Paul writes: 2Co 3:11-18 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. (12) Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, (13) not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. (14) But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. (15) Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. (16) But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (18) 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.
It is the good news of Jesus Christ that St. Paul says is more glorious and permanent than the covenant of Moses. Indeed when we turn to Christ because of the Gospel, then we can more clearly understand the will and law of the Lord. More than that, the Gospel is the glory of Christ and as we meditate on and believe this Gospel, we are being transformed into the same image of Christ from one degree of glory to another. Paul would tell us while our outer bodies are wasting away, our inner man is growing day by day through the gospel of Christ.
Now what is this Gospel of Christ Jesus that transforms us into the same image of him from one glory to the next? Just this, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. When he returns he is raising all the dead and all those who believe in him, even in his name, he gives the gift of eternal life and the right to dwell with him in the new heavens and the new earth.
The very life of Jesus has become our life. His works, his sufferings, death and burial, and his resurrection have now become our own through trust in him and baptism. The Father no longer counts our trespasses against us. He has given us the life that is in his Son Jesus. So even now, as Jesus says in John eleven, we posses eternal life and the life we live we live to Christ.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith in Christ that we may look into the glory of Christ, the Gospel with unveiled faces, that we may trust in Christ, have his life, participate in his glory and be raised to eternal life on the day of his return. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.