Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 2 Cor. 4. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- When great world leaders get together, there is almost always a good deal of pomp and dignity. Leaders like to display their own glory and power, and want to treat other leaders with a display of great respect.
- Whenever possible, the media loves to be present at these events – because virtually everyone likes to see these displays of glory televised on the news. Perhaps it lifts us up for a brief moment from our own mundane “plainness.”
- Jesus’ disciples, well three of them anyway, were privileged to have a similar experience – at least briefly. They saw the glory of Jesus, and two great men of God – Moses and Elijah. They saw the cloud and heard the awesome voice of the Father!
- However, there experience was rather brief, and there was to be no reporting of this news “until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” How difficult this must have been for Peter, James, and John! We can hardly stand not to tell others of glorious experiences we have had!
- But this account of the revelation of Christ’s glory tickles the interest of Christians. We might like to see the same glorious Jesus. And we might like others to see Him as well, so that they might be convinced to believe in Him just as we do. So that they might know God, His love, His gracious mercy and forgiveness, and have eternal life.
- But we know that this will not happen again until the Last Day, Jesus appearing in all His glory – although those who die in the Lord prior to the Last Day also see Jesus in His glory in heaven. But according to our text, we as Christians do in fact “SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD.” It happens through the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” It is God Himself shining the light of His glory and His love into our hearts.
- How sad it would be if there were people who came into the presence of this wonderful manifestation of the glory of the Lord – and yet didn’t see a thing, didn’t recognize the glory. This happens, according to our text, because of a “veil” or “curtain” of evil and unbelief. But we are assured that:
I. The Ministry Of God’s Glory Is Honest, Truthful, And Faithful
Text: “Therefore having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Statement: We’re all aware that some “ministries” can incorporate disgraceful and underhanded ways into what they are doing. We certainly recognize that human “cunning” and reason can appear to be a more effective and efficient way to build the “earthly institution” of “the church.” Obviously, tampering with God’s Word is a temptation that all of us face, and some church bodies have openly done so – rejecting clear and wondrous teachings of Holy Scripture. However, to the degree that this occurs, to that degree the ministry is no longer God’s ministry. And there is no question that some have only “their own ministry,” and that’s all that they want.
Application: While we don’t have complete power in this matter, all of us are important in determining whether or not we want a ministry from God wherein “by open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” This is what I signed up for – and I expect you to help me keep it this way. This is what this congregation called me to do, so you can also assume that this is my deepest desire as well, and I assume it is what you want! But it works best when we work together at this! However, as we all know, there are temptations and pressures to do otherwise – which we must stand firm against, and prevail against. For what is at stake is the vision of “the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” And that is way too valuable to compromise or trade away even in the least.
Transition: And sadly, this is what is lost when the ministry is perverted, for according to our text:
II. The Glory Of God, Through The Ministry Of The Gospel, Is Hidden To Unbelievers – The “god” Of This World Has Blinded Them And Their Blindness Means That They Are Perishing
Text: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.”
Statement: This is the alternative to God’s ministry to us. If we do not have a faithful, true, and honest ministry of God’s Word, the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, then the “veil” of ignorance and unbelief descends and blinds minds, binding them in ignorance of God. But the purpose of the church, and the ministry, is to bring this glorious light of God’s love to the world. Obviously, if we do not have a true ministry, then this light is obscured, and neither such a church nor ministry is functioning as God’s ministry! There is no good or godly purpose in remaining a part of such an institution! It is a waste of time!
Application: However, the point that Paul is making, is that even in the presence of the true ministry of God’s Word, and the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, there are some who just don’t get it, who fail to see the “glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” And this is tragic – God forbid that this should be the case for any of us! For just as the three disciples saw the glory of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration:
III. God Has Shone His Glory In Our Hearts As Well
A. He Does So “In The Face Of Jesus Christ”
Text: “For God, Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
B. He Does So By Means Of The Ministry Of His Word And Sacraments
Text: “What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
Statement: So, hopefully you get what the apostle is asserting! When you hear the Gospel proclaimed, it presents Jesus Christ to you – Jesus Who is Lord. But this same Lord Jesus is “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” He is your Savior, the One Who reconciles the Father to you. You see His “face” – His gracious love, mercy, and kindness toward you. It is truly glorious, that in spite of our sin and guilt, He should love us so.
It is the same in the Sacraments – in Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism is for “the remission of sins.” This is what God presents to us in Baptism. Likewise, the body and blood of Christ are “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” This is what God presents to us in Holy Communion. It is the same Word of the Gospel, in visible form, in, with, and under water; in, with, and under bread and wine.
Application: There are a couple of things. First, let us make sure that we actually “see” and believe the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus. Secondly, let us see and understand just how glorious this truly is, and how in the Word and Sacraments we are incorporated into this glory by the very presence of Christ Himself. We are buried with Him in baptism, covered by Him. We have access to the heavenly holy of holies by the body of Christ in Holy Communion. It is the New Covenant in His blood – an eternal covenant of gracious mercy and salvation!
Conclusion: This is what God is “shining” in our hearts – each time we come to worship. We hear His Word, and receive His Sacrament. We are not hearing and taking part in “disgraceful, underhanded” things. We are not in a fellowship that practices “cunning” and that “tampers” with God’s Word. We refuse and reject this. We want the true Gospel, and the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The unbelieving see no glory here at this altar, or in this pulpit, but we who are believers do. And what we see here we recognize to be but a foretaste of the glory to come. Still, what we have here is an even greater pomp and glory than the disciples saw on the Mount with Jesus! And there is more of this brilliant light and glory to come when we are welcomed into Christ’s heavenly kingdom. God grant such blessedness to each of us, here and now as we experience the light His Gospel, and in eternity in His glorious presence. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.