Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

West Point, Mississippi

Last Sunday of Epiphany [Quinquagesima](C)

 

Exodus 34.29-35                     Psalm 99                      2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2                              Luke 9.28-36

 

            The lessons for this week focus on the revelation of God’s glory.  Nothing about Jesus was changed in the transfiguration; His glory was seen as it really is by the disciples.  As the epistle makes clear, “the veil is removed” and the glory of God is revealed in Jesus Christ, as seen by the disciples on the mount of transfiguration, as shining from Moses’ face following his encounters with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, and, most importantly, as we ourselves see when we look with the “eyes of our hearts” informed by the Holy Spirit.

 

Exodus 34.29-35

 

1)      The book Exodus assumed its current form in the sixth century, B.C., following redaction by editors of the Priestly tradition.  Regardless of editing, the book likely has its origin in an oral tradition which may be traced back to Moses.

a)      The lesson for this week comes from the section (34.1-35) which tells of the remaking of the covenant between the Lord and Israel, after Israel had broken the covenant.

i)        The verses for today follow immediately on the section in which Moses has brought to Israel the new tablets of the Law (the Ten Commandments).

(1)   In other words, Moses has just encountered the Lord in person.

(2)   This time, however, Moses himself has written the commandments on the stone tablets.  Earlier, the Law had been written on the first set of tablets by the Lord Himself (31.18; 32.16).

 

2)      Moses is described as having a face which was “shining” (reflecting, in very dim form, the Lord’s glory).

a)      The verb “to shine” or “to be radiant” in Hebrew is also the denominative form of the noun “horn,” and thus the Vulgate (Latin) translation of the Bible (prepared by St. Jerome late in the fourth century) uses the word cornuta (“horned”).

i)        This word, which appears only in ch. 34 of Exodus, is the origin of the artistic tradition of depicting Moses as having horns on his head.

 

Psalm 99

 

1)      This is the last of the so-called “enthronement hymns,” which extol the glory of the Lord.

 

2)      Vv. 1-5 call for all peoples (all nations) to worship the Lord; another example of the God of Israel being proclaimed as the God of all creation.

a)      However, the Lord’s special relationship with Israel follows, at vv. 6-7.

b)      Finally, in vv. 8-9, appeal is made to the mercy and justice of God.

 

3)      God’s mercy and justice reflects His glory.

a)      God executes His justice and righteousness (v. 4) in that He answers His people (vv. 6, 8), giving them just laws (v. 7), and forgiving or punishing them as necessary (v. 8).

 

2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2

 

1)      Paul contrasts the splendor of his ministry (not of his person) with the that of Moses described at Exod. 34.27-25. 

a)      Paul contrasts his attitude in ministry with that of Moses.  He acts boldly, rather than use a veil, for God has now chosen to reveal Himself to us in Jesus.

i)        The greater authority of the Christian ministry empowers Paul to speak and act with authoritative plainness.

ii)       Paul interprets Moses’ veil as a recognition that his ministry was transitory.

 

2)      There is a corresponding difference between the followers of Moses and the followers of Christ.  The old covenant was closed and the new is open.

a)      Paul’s reference to the law as the “old covenant” is his own coinage.  Deliverance from the “bondage” of the law takes place by and through Jesus Christ.

i)        Those who are led by the Spirit are not under the law.

 

3)      God is reflected in Christ; His image is revealed.

a)      Salvation is a process with the goal of conformity to Christ. 

i)        As believers become conformed to Christ they become ever more capable of rendering Him the honor that is His due.

(1)   The agency of this transformation is by and through the Holy Spirit.

 

4)      Paul closes here by defending his ministry against those in Corinth who have attacked it.

a)      Paul speaks with authoritative plainness (see above) because he has never followed the practices of his opponents (which he will detail in the following verses).

 

Luke 9.28-36

 

1)      The teaching that Jesus had given at 9.22-27 (the way of the Cross) is so different from what He had given the disciples before that it needs divine sanction.

a)      The disciples are commanded by God to listen to this new teaching.

i)        The implications for the disciples of following the way of the Cross will be made clear in the balance of Luke’s Gospel.

 

2)      Jesus was proclaimed Son of God at His baptism (3.21-22).  He has been portrayed as embodying God’s glory in His kingdom ministry of vanquishing the forces of destruction (chs. 4-9).

a)      Now it is made clear that Jesus is revealed in His glory as He goes to the Cross.

i)        Compare John, in which Jesus’ “hour” is recognized to be on the Cross, and Mark, in which Jesus’ glory is revealed definitively on the Cross.

 

3)      Moses and Elijah:  The road upon which Jesus now embarks is in accordance with the Law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah).

a)      Only in Luke is the topic of Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah mentioned.  In v. 31 we are told they spoke of Jesus’ “departure,” i.e. of His exodus,  His journey to Jerusalem, to God by way of crucifixion.

i)        Note that Moses and Elijah refer to Jesus’ departure “which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

b)      Peter misinterprets the light of Jesus’ glory as the abundance of light of the Feast of Tabernacles.  Hence his reference to building three “dwellings” (dwellings for God’s light).