"Glory"

      In his video on Sunday, May 31, 2020, Lew Worrad touched on the subject of glorification, quoting 2 Corinthians 3: 7-11, where Paul says, “the ministry that brought death…came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory.” 

      Then Worrad explained the picture of Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex.34:29, 30). Being in God’s presence, he caught some of God’s glory. Back down among the Israelites, that glory faded. 

      Another time when Moses caught that glory was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and Elijah. Luke tells us (9:31) that they were talking about His “departure”, i.e., His death, which He would accomplish at Jerusalem. The glory was evident to Peter, James, and John (Mark 9:2-4) in the blindingly white garments, “whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.” There is even a hint in Mark 9:15 that some of that radiance remained, as with Moses in the wilderness—when Jesus and the three disciples came down to join the others, Mark says, the crowds “were overwhelmed with wonder, and ran to greet Him.” There was still something special that drew them to Him. 

      There may even be another place where Moses shows up. Here we go into “sanctified imagination”, but the possibility is there. Remember all the persons who showed up at the tomb after the resurrection? Matthew (28:2) tells us there was an angel, whose “appearance was like lightning.” Mark says (16:5), “they saw a young man dressed in a white robe.” John (20:12-14) mentions two angels and Jesus at the tomb. But what does Luke say (24:4-8)? “Two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.” And these men mention in some detail Jesus’ death and resurrection. Among all those gathering around the tomb that morning, dare we suspect that these were Moses and Elijah, come to see the results of their talk on the Mount? Jesus had indeed “accomplished” His death, and “accomplished” His resurrection. The only thing left now was His ascension to glory.