2 Corinthians 3:18. 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. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Do you have any posters or pictures hanging up in your bedroom? When I was growing up I was a big fan of a famous basketball player named Dr. J. (Julius Erving). I had a poster of Dr. J. hanging up in my bedroom. I had other pictures of him in my locker at school. I owned videos of him on VHS (ask your parents). When I played basketball, I wanted to play like he played (I didn’t).
Here’s the point – we become like the things we look at the most. We change into the things we worship. Worship? Yes, worship. I worshiped Dr. J. when I was in middle school. I watched all his games and highlights so that I could be like him. Everyone worships someone or something. Athletes. Singers. YouTube videos. Influencers. We watch them over and over until we become like them.
Todays’ verse tells us that we need to worship the resurrected Jesus in order to become like him. Let’s break it down:
And we all, with unveiled face – This is a throwback to the Old Testament. Moses would put a veil over his face when he would meet with God. When Paul says that we don’t have a veil over our faces he simply means that we are able to see God clearly now. How? By seeing Jesus.
beholding the glory of the Lord –To behold something is to look at it over and over, to stare at it while thinking about it. This means that we are supposed to be constantly looking at Jesus, the Lord.
The glory of the Lord – Jesus is glorious because he is alive. Because of his resurrection we are able to behold and worship a living, glorious, Savior!
are being transformed – The more we behold and worship Jesus, the more we are changed. Worship transforms us like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
are being transformed into the same image – This means that we are becoming like Jesus. He is “the same image.” Looking at Jesus, thinking about Jesus, and worshiping Jesus makes us like Jesus. Becoming like Jesus doesn’t mean we are becoming little gods, it means we are becoming like Jesus the person. To be like Jesus is to be a better person.
from one degree of glory to another – Becoming like Jesus takes time.
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit – The Holy Spirit is making our transformation into the likeness of Jesus possible. Praise God!
If you are a Christian (I hope you are) the resurrected Jesus is in you, and you are slowly being changed to be like him, the same image as him. So keep beholding him. Keep looking at Jesus in the pages of the Bible. Keep praying to him, listening to him, worshiping him. When Jesus is everything to you, he will never let you down, and you will become more like him.
You: How do you “behold” or worship Jesus?
You in Christ: Do you think you are becoming more like Jesus? Why or why not?
Christ in you: How can you look like Jesus today?
Prayer: Father, you want me to be like your Son, Jesus. I want that too. Help me to worship him as my resurrected king. Amen.
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