Sunshine of the Father’s Face

Because God is both transcendent and immanent, we must constantly be humbled to remain dependent on the presence of Christ. I. Transcendence (vv. 29-30) Moses’ face shone because he had been in the presence of God. And it was not merely a glistening hue like a sunbather lathered up with tanning oil, the Hebrew intensely describes light bursting forth in rays from Moses’ face. Knowing: how would you describe God’s transcendence to someone who had not heard this sermon? When the Israelites saw this phenomenon, they knew Moses’ face represented the transcendence of the almighty and holy God and they presumed it meant devastating judgment was on its way from him. So they ran! Being: what does this Israelites’ response tell us about who we are in relation to God? As long as you are trying to deal with life and all reality in your own resources, you will live with a constant fear of God’s presence which will sometimes be a mere nagging and at others an overwhelming panic. Even if you are a disciple of Christ, when you are running from obeying the Lord, his presence will be haunting to you. Even if you are a Jesus follower, as long as you have your eyes fixed on the problems of life and looking to yourself or some other source in this world for the solution, your fears will be magnified because God stands in your way to force you out of those vain pursuits. God is transcendent and it is appropriate to be intimidated by him and even shrink away from him in terror, especially if you are trying to take his place. Doing: how should you respond to God’s transcendence? II. Immanence (vv. 31-35) As there often is in God’s word, a gracious conjunction follows a grim scene, “But Moses called to them. . .all returned, and Moses talked with them.” Yes, Moses’ face shined as evidence he had been in the glorious transcendent presence of God, but there was a gracious additional reason. The Lord wanted his people to know he was drawing near with his grace. Knowing: what is significant about God’s immanence coupled with his transcendence? Paul would later explain that one reason Moses’ veiled his face was to shield the people from discouragement as the brightness waned (2 Cor. 3:13). When the glow on his face disappeared, it meant he had to return to the tabernacle to receive further revelation. Through subsequent generations, God clarified in various ways the Messiah was yet to come. Finally, in Jesus we beheld “the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14?). Being: how does Christ demonstrate God immanence and why is that good news? In 2 Cor. 3:7-11, Paul theologically applies what is happening in this story. First, the law Moses wrote was an expression of God’s glorious grace because it provided directions for the tabernacle which would represent God’s presence among them (7). But it was infinitely surpassed by the revelation of salvation in Christ (8). That salvation specifically provides righteousness through Christ (9), direct access to the Father in prayer (12, 13), a new mind to understand reality (14-15), and the initiation of transformation into the likeness of Christ (17-18). Doing: how should you live in response to God’s immanence?