For year two or year “B” in the three-year lectionary series for Sunday morning readings, the following readings are provided for Transfiguration Sunday: 2 Kings 2:1-12c (Elisha and Elijah); 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (the veil of Moses) and Mark 9:2-9 (the Transfiguration). It may sound odd but the verse chosen for this Sunday is 2 Corinthians 3:16, “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
This verse was chosen because it fits the paradigm being used in recent sermons by which a verse is chosen that appears to contradict the message of Scripture. The Bible is clear that we do not chose Christ but He choses us yet it sounds like this verse is saying that the confusion in reading the Bible is taken away once we make a decision to turn to the LORD. This is really the foundation of all other religions in the world that speak of a personal divine being. He will be appeased once you turn to Him and that is up to you.
However, note how the Old Testament lesson of Elisha receiving Elijah’s mantle was in no way a decision on the part of Elisha. The sign that Elisha would get the double portion of Elijah’s spirit was whether Elisha would see Elijah when he was taken away in the firey chariot. That was not something Elisha decided; it was God’s timing and purpose for Elisha to be present. His seeing was a gift; not something he decided to do.
Similarly, the Transfiguration would be remembered as a great turning point for the disciples who witnessed it. Yet they did not choose to turn to witness it; it was by God’s grace that they were present for such a holy thing to occur. Certainly for a time they remained confused but then after the resurrection took place, all things fell into place.
A person turning to the LORD reminds me of the parable of the Lost Sheep. While the sheep made no choice in being found at all, it would be correct to conclude that the Lost Sheep was saved by turning home. It’s just that the turn was the responsibility of the Shepherd in taking care of that sheep. Verse 16 of 2 Cor. 3 is NOT a command. It is a promise. It DOES NOT say that you must make a decision and turn to the LORD and then the veil is removed. It says that once one turns to the LORD, the veil is taken away. The turning is not done by me anymore than I did my heart transplant required in Psalm 51. It was not my doing but a gift from God (Create within me a clean heart).
The sermon would hit those with Law who imagined that their coming to church, their involvement in church activities, their prayers, etc. somehow is the turning to God that merits the veil being removed. No, instead, our turning to God took place in the same way as it did with Paul on the road to Damascus–as a work of God which was a total surprise. Faith in the Gospel is indeed accomplished by the gift of the Spirit who continues since our baptism to remove the veil piece by piece until that time when we will finally see Him face to face!
Name:Tom Baker
Good stuff! Thanks be to God for your blog.
I look at it like this, God has 2 different kinds of commands. The one kind that creates something from nothing (ie) Light be! and light was. Also Lazarus come forth and he did..
The other commands are those that bring to nothing and kill the proud that they me be ready for the first type of command.
A most interesting distinction indeed. As the saying goes, “Theology is the art of making distinctions.” Similar to the distinction you made is the one between when “If” is conditional upon you and when “if” is conditional upon God. For example, “If you are home at 5 pm, you will have a free supper.” The condition is met by you. Then, “If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you will be saved.” That is a condition which only God can fulfill through providing you with a heart transplant (Ps. 51).
Another way of referring to that distinction is the difference between verbs that are in the imperative (your responsibility) and those in the indicative (Promises which God will fulfill). Thanks for your insight Ps 17:15.