Paul the apostle wrote, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) The reason that believers are able to see The Lord Jesus in all of His beauty and glory is because the veil of blindness has been removed by the grace of God (2 Corinthians 3:13-16).
In the tabernacle there was a veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies (Exodus 26:33). Only the high priest could enter into that holy place, and that was once a year on the day of atonement, called Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16). In the New Testament we read that when Jesus Christ shouted those words of atonement accomplished, “It is Finished” (John 19:30), that veil in the Herodian Temple was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:37,38). The impact of those words from Jesus Christ caused the earth to quake and the rocks to be torn into pieces (Matthew 27:51)!
As a result of that finished work of Christ on the cross, you and I are able to enter into the presence of God with unveiled faces in a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20). Because The Lord Jesus Christ has entered into that holy place for us (Hebrews 6:19-20), we can come before the throne of grace boldly, not only for grace and help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16), but for sweet fellowship with our God (1 John 1:1-4). What you and I “see” through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12), we will one day see face to face (Revelation 22:1-4).
Paul clearly tells us that religion is often a veil that blinds us from entering into a real relationship with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3). He tells us how he lived his entire life trying to earn the favor of God (Philippians 3:4-6). Then one glorious day, Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul (Acts 9:1-6), and immediately, that veil of religion and self-righteousness dissipated in the presence of Grace Incarnate. In comparison to the grace of God, Paul now saw his former religious efforts as being dung (Philippians 3:7-9).
Only the grace of God can remove whatever covers your face from seeing the beauty of the glory of God in the face of The Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). In our study this morning, John is seeing His Lord Jesus with an unveiled face, and so will you if you are one of His sheep (John 10:27-29).
