Friday 28 May 2021
- Bible Book:
- 2 Corinthians
Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory. (v. 10)
Background
As with Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia that we looked at on Monday of this week, this second letter to the Church in Corinth deals again with the tension between Jewish Christians (sometimes referred to as Judaizers) and the non-Jewish Christians.
There are those that believe these Gentile Christians should keep to certain Jewish laws such as circumcision and obeying food laws. Yet Paul wants to impress upon the Church that there is no need to return to these laws under the way of Jesus.
Paul alludes to the story of Moses in Exodus 34:29-35 in which Moses’ face shines after he has experienced the glory of God. Paul wants those that hear his words to understand that what Jesus has done changes the way we understand the world. The old was temporary, Moses’ glow faded over time but the Spirit that is now poured out for all is eternal and always present (vs 8-11).
This is the new hope that allows followers of Jesus to be free from the veil of the law that has now been removed from our eyes. To use a parable of Jesus: if we have a lamp why would we cover it up with a bowl so it cannot be seen (Matthew 5:15)? In the same way Paul wants us to understand that in Jesus the bowl has been removed, the veil lifted so that God’s glory can shine through our lives.
To Ponder:
- Do you sometimes hide your light so that it cannot be seen?
- How can we allow the light of Jesus to shine through us?