Five sweet verses stand out in 2 Corinthians 3:12-17. Here Paul talks about the veil that covered the face of Moses. He compares it to a veil covering the hearts of those who have not yet turned to the Lord.
The illustration of the veil comes from the Old Testament, specifically Exodus 34:34-35. Moses, as the leader of Israel and as the mediator between God and the people would go into the tent of meeting and speak to God. Scripture says that God spoke to Moses as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11).
After being in God’s presence he would exit the tent and he would be shining like rays of the sun. In order not to blind people, he would put a veil over his face that would hide the radiance of God shining from his face.
Paul makes the point that there is a veil now, but it is over the hearts of those who do not believe that Jesus is God’s son and that He is the ultimate mediator between God and man.
The veil on the heart hides the radiance of God from the heart of those who do not believe.
But when one turns to the Lord, just like when Moses turned and went into the tent of meeting, the veil is taken off and the radiance of God shines forth and is visible to us. More than that—it is transforming us as we walk through life.
If we were among the first to read Paul’s letter, we might have said, “Yes, Paul, that is all well and good, but Moses was the only one allowed to go into the tent. How would we ever be allowed to go into God’s presence like that?” How would Paul answer?
Such is the confidence we have in Christ toward God. (2 Corinthians 3:4)
Jesus gives us the right to go into the tent because he went there first by His death and resurrection.
Paul is making the argument that Jesus is better than Moses.
The righteousness of Christ poured out on us in Jesus’ blood is greater than the righteousness of the law which we could not attain for ourselves. In fact, under the law, the harder we try the more we realize our inability to attain our own righteousness. But in Christ, we ourselves shine with the radiance of God.
This is good news for you. This is good news for me.
And there is more…
Where else do we find the theme “Jesus is better” in the New Testament?
As we have been preaching through Hebrews, we have zeroed in on the themes and ideas found in this one book. However, if the book of Hebrews is the only place where these themes are found, why would I trust it?
When it comes to the book of Hebrews this is an important question. We don’t know the identity of the author. However, the church has recognized the authority of the book from the earliest days. Do we have good reason to trust it in spite of the mystery of who wrote it?
To answer that question we would want to know that the rest of the New Testament verified what we find in Hebrews. We would want to see if in reading Hebrews it felt like we were reading with the grain of the rest of the New Testament.
In other words, is the theology of the book coherent with the rest of the New Testament?
When Paul talks in this place about Moses in 2 Corinthians 3:12-17 it corresponds to the argument the author of Hebrews makes about how Jesus is better than Moses. This is just one encouraging spot among many that shows the coherence of Hebrews and the rest of the New Testament.
One of the main themes, if not the main theme, of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is better—the same argument Paul makes in 2 Corinthians 3:12-17.
Looking for coherence is a good way to pull together your own study of the Bible.
Looking for coherence is a good way to fortify your heart.
Looking for coherence is a good way to be reminded of the good news that “Jesus is better.”
“Jesus is better” rings true across the pages of the New Testament and across time to us that the radiance of God might shine on you.
During the Exodus, the Israelites were wandering through the desert wondering what was next. They were waiting on their leader to talk with God. Moses’ shining face reminded them that God had indeed spoken and that he was indeed leading them.
If you find yourself wandering today wondering whether God has spoken, remember that you don’t have to look to Moses in the tent. Look to Jesus, who is God incarnate, and know that God has spoken in Him. He is leading you through life’s desert and wilderness to the promised land.
Because Jesus is better, when you turn to Him you will shine with God’s radiance.
In Him,
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