Pastor Rick Duncan
Are you the kind of person people want to be around?
Start with a self-assessment. Give yourself a score on a scale of 1-10 – 1 (rarely) and 10 (consistently).
___ I show mercy, grace, and patience to others, especially when they make mistakes and let me down.
___ People often feel encouraged as well as challenged after spending time with me, sensing the presence of grace and truth as we interact.
___ I demonstrate love and loyalty in my relationships by keeping my promises and commitments.
___ Though I’m very forgiving, others know that I am also just, advocating for what is right even when it’s difficult.
___ I help people have hope in uncertain circumstances because they feel valued in my presence.
Where did you score highest? Lowest? What does this tell you about being the kind of person, others truly want to be around? If you had to pick one of these, where do you need to grow the most?
Open your Bibles to Exodus 34:28-35. We are going to read a story about a man whose face glowed. His name was Moses, leader of God’s people. Moses had just spent an extended amount of time in the presence of God – asking the Lord to forgive the sins of the people, receiving fresh commands from God for the people. In the process, God gave a fresh revelation of His name and His nature to Moses.
Why would Moses’ face shine after spending this time with the LORD?
It’s because of who the LORD is! The Lord is my light (Psalm 27:1). God is light (1 John 1:5). He’s called the Father of lights (James 1:17). He makes His face to shine upon His people (Numbers 6:25). So, when Moses was in the presence of the LORD, he was in the presence of light. And Moses’ face reflected the light of God. That’s why his face glowed!
Moses was luminescent because He spent extended time in the presence of God, in the light of the LORD. But the people knew: This man has been with God. Now, if you are visiting the church today, checking things out and wondering, “What’s up with these Christian people?” you need to know that a man literally glowing was an unusual occurrence. It’s mysterious. It’s miraculous. It’s surprising. It’s an unexpected detail.
We’re left with asking, “Why? What’s the point of this story?” of these seemingly odd parenthetical verses in this narrative in Exodus. 2 ideas:
- This story should point us to Jesus.
- This story should direct our gaze.
Let’s unpack these 2 ideas.
How does this story point us to Jesus?
Over and over in the series, we’ve learned that Moses points us to Jesus and that Jesus is better than Moses. He’s a greater Moses. And that means that He shines better!
The birth of Jesus was predicted by the prophets. Isaiah describes the coming of Christ this way: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2). One of the followers of Jesus, John, described the coming of Christ, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus even said about Himself, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). One time He went up on a mountain with 3 of His followers and was transfigured, “And His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2). In the very last book of the Bible, the risen and returning Lord Jesus is described, “His face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1:16).
The glory that shone from Moses was a foreshadowing of the greater glory found in Jesus. The law, delivered through Moses, revealed the holiness and justice of God, pointing out that we need a better Savior. In Jesus, we find light, grace, and truth. He shines brighter and better.
The light from the face of Moses was reflected and fleeting. The light from the face of Jesus is intrinsic and permanent. Moses points us to Jesus. The lesser points to the greater.
What’s the point of this story?
- It points to Jesus.
- It directs our gaze… to Jesus.
One of the greatest students and teachers about the nature and character of God was the great missionary/church planter named Paul. He wrote 13 of our books in the New Testament. And in one of those books, 2 Corinthians, he refers to this story from Exodus 34. 2 Corinthians 3 teaches us that the glory Moses reflected from God as He received the Law cannot be compared with the glory that comes from the grace of Jesus and the freedom of the Spirit. And there he tells us that as Moses looked at the LORD, we should look to Jesus.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:18
God’s aim for our salvation is that we are actually transformed into the image of Christ, that we truly become like Jesus (Romans 8:29). If Jesus lived in your house, enjoyed your relationships, and worked in your job, what would that look like? He wants you and me to be like Him where we live, learn, work, and play! What would He say if He were you? Where would He go if He were you? How would He be if He were you?
C.S Lewis wrote, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that. all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself are simply a waste of time.”
Every Christian is to become a little Christ! We are to be conformed to the image of the Son of God. We should long to be like Jesus all the time, everywhere. To be a Christian is to learn to live like Jesus!
So, how can we be transformed? Simply put, we behold to become. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that when we behold the glory of the Lord, our character and our conduct will be transformed into the image of Jesus little by little, more and more, over time. As God’s face shines upon us, His glory radiates through our lives, drawing others to Him and pointing them to the reality of His love and grace. Our words and actions become channels of blessing and encouragement to those around us, reflecting the presence and favor of God in our lives.
If we want to be transformed into the image of Christ, we must look at Him more and more deeply. We must gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. That’s when our faces will shine – maybe not literally physically – but people will notice our character shining. They’ll say, “I don’t know what it is about her… I can’t quite put my finger on it about him… but something’s different. Something’s attractive. She shines. He glows.”
See, what you look at, you will (eventually) look like. If you look at the world, you will look like the world. If you look at the Lord, you will look like the Lord.
I invite you to ask yourself a few questions: Who is influencing me the most? Where’s my gaze? What have I been looking at? Who am I beholding?
If we really want to look like Jesus, we have to start looking at Jesus! Moses’ face was shining! Why? He was talking with the LORD.
Now, as we have moved in the series through Exodus, God has revealed more and more of who He is to His people.
- We learned His Name, the LORD, in chapter 3.
- We saw His supernatural power to deliver through the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
- We studied His Fatherly goodness as He miraculously gave food and water to the Israelites in the desert.
- We explored His awe-inspiring, sovereign holiness as He gave the Law to His people.
- We discovered His welcoming invitation to come close into His presence through the building of the tabernacle.
In spite of all this, the people of God fell into idolatry and immorality. Moses, as mediator, prayed and interceded for the people. And God said, “OK. You deserve My wrath. But I’ll fulfill My promise. My people will not only make it to the promised land, but I’ll go with you!”
Why would a holy, righteous God not give up on these people? It’s because of who He is. In Exodus 34:6-7, we see a more complete revelation of who God is. It’s like God is ripped open his heart and says, “This is who I am.”
Merciful. Gracious. Patient. Loving. Faithful. Forgiving. Just.
So, when Moses communed with God, this is what He sees. This is Who makes Moses’ face shine.
Now, fast forward to Jesus. Remember we are to “behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed from one degree of glory to the next”? We are to look at Christ so we can look like Christ!
What does He look like? He looks like His Father. He looks like YHWH. He looks like Exodus 34:6-7. What do we see when we look into the face of the Lord Jesus?
Mercy. A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus by the religious leaders. They remind Him that the law of Moses commands that such a woman be stoned. Jesus responds, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one the accusers leave. Jesus then tells the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” When you behold Jesus, you see Mercy.
Grace. At His time of greatest need, one of Jesus’ followers, Peter, denied that he even knew who Jesus was. Three times! Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the grave. After that He had a one-on-one encounter with Peter. Jesus asked, “Do you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?” Three denials; three questions. And three times Peter said, “Yes, I do love You.” You know what Jesus did? Jesus invited him to take a leadership role and says, “Feed my lambs.” When you behold Jesus, you see Grace.
Patience. After Jesus rose from the dead, one of his followers, Thomas, doubted that Jesus had risen. Thomas demanded to see the nail marks in the hands of Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus is in the room with Thomas. But instead of rebuking Thomas for his lack of faith, Jesus held out His hands and invited Thomas to touch His wounds. When you behold Jesus you see Patience.
Love. Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus. He became ill. Then he died. Jesus traveled to his home, arriving several days after Lazarus died. When Lazarus’ sisters wondered why Jesus didn’t come sooner so He could’ve healed their brother, Jesus joined them in their sorrow. He wept. And then He raised His friend from the dead. When you behold Jesus, you see Love.
Faithfulness. Jesus and His disciples were in a boat, during a violent storm on the sea of Galilee. Jesus was unperturbed, asleep. The disciples were terrified. They woke Jesus up and said, “Don’t you care if we die?” They lacked faith. But Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, protecting them even when they doubted him. When you behold Jesus, you see Faithfulness.
Forgiveness. When Jesus was crucified, one of the criminals crucified next to him at first walked him. But as he saw Jesus die with majesty and meaning, he changed. That thief begged Jesus, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to that robber, “Today, You will be with Me in paradise.” Forgiveness.
Justice. Jesus described the final judgment. He said that He will separate people like a shepherd separates sheep from the goats. The sheep represent people whose lives have been transformed and who, therefore, do good deeds like caring for the poor, visiting the sick, and feeding the hungry. The goats represent people whose lives were not transformed. Jesus said that He will see to it that the righteous will inherit eternal life, but the unrighteous will experience eternal judgment. When you behold Jesus, you see Justice.
When you look at Jesus, you will see all of this and more. As you meditate on Him – as you ponder Him in His presence, as you gaze on His glory, as you see and seize Him – you will become like Him more and more… over time.
Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief. Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in His beams. Feel His all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in His mighty arms… Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him. Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Was Jesus Someone others wanted to hang out with? Well, not everyone… because some people prefer darkness to light because their deeds are evil. But here’s what some people said about Jesus…
No one ever spoke like this man! (John 7:46) Sinners were all drawing near to hear Him (Luke 15:1) They were all amazed… saying, ‘We never saw anything like this! (Mark 2:12) Immediately they… followed Him. (Matthew 4:20).
We are commanded over and over in the Bible to behold, to look, to see Jesus!
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face…
Psalm 27:8 – You have said, “Seek My face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Psalm 24:6 – Seek the face of the God of Jacob.
John 1:29 – Behold, the Lamb of God…
Hebrews 12:2 – Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…
We have an opportunity to experience a glory that is not just skin deep like that of Moses. When we behold the glory of the Lord, He will penetrate our character and change our inmost being into His very image. We begin to more completely resemble Him. And then we can reflect Him to the world.
In a message on John 17, the late New York pastor, Tim Keller, points out that Jesus prayed for us to see His glory (John 17:24). And, he says, is the key to change. You need to be more forgiving? Look at the price Jesus paid to forgive you… and forgiving others won’t be a “have-to” but a “want-to”! You need more courage? Look at how Jesus faced hell for you! See His glory! You’ll be transformed by Jesus – your Hero. He’ll be your Pattern for life.
Who wouldn’t want to know a Savior like that? Do you know Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Him. Is He your Savior? He came into this world, died on a cross so you could be forgiven, rose from the dead, invites you to follow Him and become like Him. You can shine and reflect His light to the world around you.
Maybe this prayer expresses the desire of your heart.
Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I have loved the darkness more than the light. Through my thoughts, words, and deeds I have made the world a darker place. You died to forgive me. You rose to bring me into Your light. Make Your face shine on me. Help me behold You! And may I be transformed from one degree of glory to the next. Amen.
If you want to behold Christ better – if you want to shine, if you want to be a person others really want to be around – then ask the Lord…
What should I stop doing? What should I start doing? What should I read, watch, listen to in order to behold Christ and be transformed into His likeness?
You can engage in all the disciplines, and still not behold Christ. For example, I could practice solitude, but spend my time in solitude planning my future or plotting for church growth, and never really think of or worship Christ. I could spend time in prayer, interceding for others, and never really in prayer ponder the beauty and the glory of Jesus. I could read scripture – for example the book of Proverbs – and end up moralizing it and creating a “do more” ethic. In that sense, scripture itself isn’t being used to help me behold Christ.
So, I need to figure out how to leverage spiritual disciplines so that I am more and more enamored with and stunned by and mesmerized by the conduct and character of Christ. Spiritual disciplines that do not connect the dots directly to Jesus might make us knowledgeable and moral but not make us like Christ. I’ve known a lot of non-Christ-like Christians. And I bet you have, too.
So, what will you do behold Him – to look at Him, to see Him in all His glory? How will you increase your capacity to ponder Him, to consider Him, to be increasingly captivated by Him, to restore your first love, to fall in love with Him all over again?
We can’t sanctify ourselves. That’s God’s work. But God will not practice the spiritual disciplines for us. We have to work out the salvation that God has worked in. We must discipline ourselves to look at Jesus.
Establish Your Priorities. Set aside time each day to focus on Jesus, reading the Bible! Tell me the stories of Jesus. Write on my heart every word!
Limit Your Distractions. Set boundaries on the use of technology. Don’t get addicted to work or to exercise. Avoid excessive consumption of media.
Create Your Sacred Spaces. What if you created a quiet, peaceful place in your home or workplace where you can retreat for prayer, reflection, journaling, and solitude? What would it look like for you to surround yourself with reminders of Christ – verses, music, or artwork.
Take the initiative. Act in faith. Say to yourself, “I will put down my phone. I will turn off the TV. I will read that book about Christ. I will take a walk and listen to the stories about Jesus. I will develop new habits. And as I do all this, my life will start looking like Christ’s life. If I will do what God’s called me to do, He will do what He’s promised to do. He will transform me.”
You can become more luminous. You can be a luminary. You can be someone whose light shines more and more. It’s not going to be because you have so much light within you. It’s only going to be because you choose to behold Jesus who is the Light of the world. And as you spend time with Him, you can begin to glow more and more. You will have an almost unexplainable quality about you. People may not be able to articulate what’s different about you. But they will find you intriguing, surprising, attractive, winsome, encouraging, inspiring.
Not everyone’s going to like the light you reflect. When Jesus came into this world as the light, some preferred darkness rather than light. Some will want to turn away from you. Some will reject you. But you will be incandescent. You can glow in the dark with the glory that has come to you through the face of the Lord Jesus.
