2 Corinthians 4:3-6.                                         Gospel veiled???                                              11/2/18

³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

This morning our focus is on the transfiguration of our Lord up on the mountain, and its implications for us here today. Jesus revealed himself to three of his disciples so that they could catch a glimpse of who this Jesus really is. That was then recorded for our benefit after Jesus had died and risen again from the dead.

This was done in order that we can be certain of the fact that this Jesus truly is God come into our world for the express purpose of dying on the cross. So that we might have forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternal life with God in all eternity. This Jesus Christ is truly then Lord of life for us here today.

However here is where the problem then is for us today. If Jesus really is Lord of all, how come our churches today are in such a dire situation as they are? Why is it that we have so many around us that do not want to ‘pitch their tent’ in the presence of God’? Who want to be with him as much as possible? Why do they want to live in darkness instead of the glory of Christ?

This reading here this morning from 2 Corinthians gives us a clear indication as to what is going on. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Ouch!

The minds of so many today are being blinded to the truth. They cannot and do not want to see that which gives light to life for us. They are so caught up in the things and attitudes of this world that they are blind to reality. They are so ego-centric and narcissistic they cannot see beyond their own lives and thinking that they have no idea as to what is truly good anymore.

Very much that is the god of this age. The idol of me, myself and I, is so worshipped and adored by the world all around us. This idol is now also having a big influence in the churches as well. What I think, feel and want is placed way above even what God almighty is and says. We in the western world have put this idol up on a pedestal as sacrosanct. Surely if I think something is right and good, God must surely think the same things. If he created me the way I am, then surely, I am right. How disastrous!

The really sad thing is that our thinking is so veiled that we cannot even see how wrong and bad this thinking is. This self-glorification of ourselves has so clouded our thinking that we cannot even see the problem. Any half-thinking on our part surely shows how much this narcissistic thinking is destroying our society. The mess in each of our lives is an ever-present reminder of the sin that is there.

So, our society is perishing rapidly and we don’t want to see it or acknowledge this is the case. We accept all the technology because of the good that is there, but turn a blind eye to its many disastrous and tragic fruits. We are rapidly dying as a society, but are desperately try to pretend that we are developing into a better one. History is fast repeating itself.

However, here today we are reminded that there is a clear and bright answer to this for those open to receive it. For our reading reminds us that: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. God therefore has and is a Light that can overcome the darkness that is in our world. It is ever there, if only we would not close our eyes to it.

This is where it is interesting. Just as when we come into a very bright light, we will often close our eyes. The light is too bright for our eyes to immediately cope with, so we close them. The same goes for the glory of our Lord; our sinfulness cannot bear to take God seriously for it hurts too much.

We know the punishment that we deserve, so we close our eyes to the problem. We pretend that God is not there, or that he is a loving God who accepts us irrespective. At best, we will just take little glimpses here and there; not get involved too much; not listen to carefully. Then we might be okay.

But in this regard God has given us another way for us to see the glory of God, in all of its fullness. He shows us very clearly who he is and what he is like. He shows us that he knows our problem and does something about.  He proves that he is with us and that he cares. In this way we can look up to him without his glory being more than we can bear.

Jesus and his disciples did not stay up there on the mountain. They came down from the mountain and travelled through mess of this life to Jerusalem and the cross. Because of the sin of each one of us there is all kinds of problems and disasters to face in this life. Because of our disobedience toward God and his Word, this will be for as long as this world stands. Without Jesus coming down off the mountain we would also have had to endure God’s eternal punishment for our sin.

That is why he comes down and goes to Jerusalem. There he allows himself to take the punishment that we deserve on himself. He becomes the Sacrificial Lamb which takes away the sin of the world. He does what is need for us to see the glory of God in all of its fulness.

So yes, there on the cross he comes right down into our sinful world and gives us a way through and out of the mess we have made for ourselves. There he takes our punishment on himself so that God can now look on us without his glory burning us up. There we can see the extent that he is prepared to go to so that we might have forgiveness and salvation.

Then three days later he rises again so that we can know that he is truly of God and that his death for us was valid. So now we too can know that in connection with him we too will rise from the dead to be with him in all his glory to enjoy the very best forever more.

So now as we look to and are connected to Jesus Christ through baptism and faith we are able to go forward with boldness and confidence. For in him we now can see the glory of God, in the death and resurrection of our Lord. We can face the troubles and hardship of life with a sure and certain hope.

So, God in this way has made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. We who are truly Christian are enabled to now have that certainty of knowing that there is a clear way through the mess of this life, to then be able to enjoy the rest of eternity with our Lord in heaven.

The face of Christ on the Cross is our enduring confidence of God’s glory. There is the glory that enables to stand in the midst of a world that refusing take it seriously and is thereby living in darkness. Though the unbelieving world is heading to eternal darkness, we already are living in the light of Christ.

This sure and certain hope then helps us here today in the midst of the world that we are living in today. We know that: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  But with Christ we can hold our heads up and seek to do the best we can in the face of it all.

Even though many have openly turned their backs on God; and many within the Church not heeding what he says in his Word, we can continue to hold to Christ and his Word and know that we are safe. When many worship the idol of me, myself and I, we can look to our Lord and know for sure that that is where our hope for the future lies.

Even when many in the church try to change and ignore what God has said, we can know that it is Christ and the cross that is central. When the focus is on society and what I think, we are careful, and instead continue to know that it again is all about Christ and what he has said and done for us that is all important.

So, what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. Our aim is to give all glory to Jesus Christ and acknowledge that his glory is very closely associated with his death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

So, to conclude, here today we are reminded of the importance of the recognition of the true glory of Christ.  He has revealed himself as God and as one who on the cross, ensures forgiveness of sins, life and salvation to us. May God continue to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. In the midst of a world where the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, may we not succumb.

Christ is not hidden from us. His Word and Sacraments are our constant assurance and confidence that there alone in Jesus Christ is our hope and our certainty. So, to him alone then be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish