A Word from 2 Corinthians 4

What comes to mind when you think about “glory”? Do you think about grand estates and gilded ballrooms? Do you see bright lights, and loud noises, and overwhelming displays of power? And if that is glory, how do you feel about approaching glory? And how likely is it that you will ever be glorious?

I ask all this because today is when Christians around the world commemorate “The Transfiguration” (see Mt. 17:1-6 and other gospel parallels) — that moment in the gospels when Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white, as he revealed his divine nature to Peter, James and John. And naturally, that was a moment of glory! And yet…

In today’s word from 2 Corinthians 4, we’re given a different perspective. Pau’s talking about the difference between the old covenant and the new. And he says  that “God — who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ — made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (4:6; emphasis added)

You see, “the surpassing glory” as Paul calls it (3:10) isn’t best revealed in power, and wealth, and mighty displays of authority, but in the humble and loving sacrifice of a Savior who gives his life on a cross. As Paul puts it elsewhere, “We preach Christ crucified…For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor. 1:23, 25)

And here’s the thing: The closer we get to Jesus — and the more our lives resemble his — the more glorious we become! “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,” Paul says, “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18)

So today, let’s contemplate glory as it’s displayed in our suffering Savior. And let’s take up our cross and follow him. Amen.