15 May 2016

Johann du Plessis  Johann du Plessis

WITH AN UNVEILED FACE… (2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-11 & 16-18)

Exodus 32-33 tells the story of how the Israelites, under supervision of Aaron, made a golden statue of a calf as an image of God and worshiped it. Moses then broke the two stone tablets on which the covenant law was inscribed by God. The covenant between God and his people was indeed in tatters! God refused to accompany Israel any further and only after intercession by Moses, changed his mind. Exodus 34 tells how Moses was commissioned to prepare two new tablets, on which the covenant law would be inscribed again. The passage to which Paul refers is Exodus 34:28-35. After spending forty days in God’s presence on Mount Sinai during which God inscribed the Law, he returned to the Israelite camp. His face was so radiant from being in God’s presence that the Israelites were afraid of him, so he covered it with a veil. “Whenever Moses entered the Lord’s presence to speak to Him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out… they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.” (34:34-35).

Paul contrasts his ministry with the veiling of Moses’ face. The veil now does not refer to Moses’ face, but to veil drawn over the minds of the Jews; i.e. their stubborn unwillingness to accept Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenant with God. This veil can only be removed “in (or: by) Christ” and it happens when someone turns to the Lord (Exodus 34:35). Then, when someone turns to the Lord, God Himself removes the veil.

Now the climax of the passage: “and we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The glory of the Lord can and should be reflected by the church, and in this process of reflection we are being changed into his likeness. We in fact undergo a transformation. We are transformed by the Spirit to be able to increasingly reflect who the Lord really is.

 What is so special about Jesus? We referred to it last week. He is unique in that

  • He lives eternally and gives eternal life to his people…
  • He cares so much that He gave up his life so that people may receive life
  • He saves rather than condemns. He looks at us, not to try to catch us out, but to see whether He can help…

It is this glory that the church should reflect.

“We cannot add anything to God’s glory; but we can enhance His reputation…” (Plantinga)

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15 Mei 2016

 Johann du Plessis  Johann du Plessis

 

ONTSLUIER… (2 KORINTIËRS 3:7-11 EN 16-18)

In Eksodus 32-33 lees ons die verhaal hoe die Israeliete onder leiding van Aäron ʼn goue kalf gemaak het as afbeelding van God, en dit aanbid het. Moses het toe die twee kliptafels waarop die Wet gegraveer was stukkend gegooi. Die verbondsverhouding tussen God en Israel was aan’t skerwe! God wou nie verder met Israel geassosieer wees nie – Hy sou nie verder “saamtrek” met hulle nie (33:3). Moses bepleit egter die saak van die volk en in Eksodus 34 word vertel dat Moses weer twee plat klippe moes kap om die gebooie van God op te teken. Die gedeelte waarna Paulus verwys is die episode in Eksodus 34:28-35. Moses was weer vir veertig dae in die teenwoordigheid van die Here op Sinaiberg terwyl die Wet beskryf is. Met die afkom het sy gesig geblink, sodat die volk bang was om met hom in aanraking te kom. Hy het toe sy gesig met ʼn doek toegemaak. “Wanneer Moses na die Here toe gaan om met Hom te praat, verwyder hy die doek tot na sy terugkoms… wanneer die Israeliete sy gesig sien blink, trek Moses die doek oor sy gesig totdat hy weer met die Here gaan praat.” (34:34-35).

Paulus se bediening staan in skrille kontras die versluiering van Moses se gesig. Die sluier waarvan Paulus praat, verwys egter nie meer na Moses se gesig nie, maar na die versluiering van Israel se verstand, dit is: hulle weiering om Jesus as die vervulling van God se verbond te aanvaar. Die sluier word net “in Christus” weggeneem, “Wanneer Moses ook al na die Here toe draai, word die sluier weggeneem”. God neem Self die sluier weg wanneer iemand na die Here toe draai.

Nou die hoogtepunt: “Wanneer ons almal dan met ʼn onbedekte gesig die heerlikheid van die Here soos in ʼn spieël reflekteer, dan word ons getransformeer na dieselfde beeld, van heerlikheid tot heerlikheid, as van die Here wat die Gees is.”

So, die heerlikheid van die Here kan en moet weerkaats word en in hierdie proses word onsself verander (ons ondergaan letterlik ʼn metamorfose) om al meer soos Christus te lyk.

Wat maak Jesus uniek? Wat is so spesiaal aan Jesus Christus?

  • Die feit dat Hy ewig lewe en ewig lewe gee… dit hou nie op nie
  • Die feit dat Hy omgee… sy omgee-liefde laat Hom sy lewe prysgee en mense ontvang die prys van die lewe
  • Die feit dat Hy red en nie veroordeel nie… Hy kyk na ons, maar nie om ons te probeer uitvang nie; Hy kyk of Hy nie kan help nie!

Hierdie heerlikheid moet gelowiges, moet die kerk, reflekteer.

 “We cannot add anything to God’s glory; but we can enhance His reputation…” (Plantinga)

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