Peter Barnes: Exodus 34:29-35
(23 June 2019)
SERMON NOTES: THE GLORY OF MOSES AND OF JESUS (Exodus 34:29-35)
Exodus 34:29-35 is commented upon by Paul at some length in 2 Corinthians 3; see especially 2 Cor.3:10.
1. God’s presence brings glory.
– Ex.34:29. Moses had pleaded to be shown God’s glory – 33:18, 23. But that was still enough to give him a kind of reflected glory.
– Peter and John ‘shone’ as they were used in the healing of the lame man by the Beautiful Gate (Acts 4:11-12, 13).
– Luke 9:28-30, 36.
2. The glory of Moses is veiled; the glory of Christ is revealed.
– Ex.34:30-35. We probably expected it to be the other way around.
– 2 Cor.3:7-9. Righteousness here is the opposite of condemnation. ‘Rabbi’ Duncan: ‘The dust of the earth now sits on the throne of the universe.’ 2 Cor.3:12-13, 14-17. The Old Testament is a strange book without Christ, but with Christ the veil is lifted.
3. The glory of Moses is partial; the glory of Christ is total.
– 2 Cor.3:11. The NIV has ‘fading away’, but it is stronger than that – it is ‘brought to an end’ or ‘finished’.
– 2 Cor.3:18. All Christians are, as it were, like Moses in that with unveiled face they behold the Lord – Ex.34:33-35; Num.12:8.
– 2 Cor.4:4; Christ is called ‘the image of God’. Rom.8:29; 1 John 3:2.
Charles Wesley: Changed from glory into glory/ Till in heaven we take our place,/ Till we cast our crowns before Thee,/ Lost in wonder, love and praise!