Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-31

on form essentially uiHerent from that
in which they had known him they might
easily have doubted his identity and have
thought it spirit or an angel.
Taking Luke's account of these events.
The matter would appear to the writer in
this light These disciples waited with
their Lord in prayer. The habit of Jesus
to spend the nighttime in prayer, and the
fact that Luke mentions that the disciples
were oppressed with sleepiness. go TO
show that it was during the nighttime
That the TRANSPORTATION occurred.
While thus in retired communion with
God, the heavenly glory. which is never
far from the place of true devotion, burst
forth upon the Son Of God. His raiment
unchanged, the contour OF his features
unchanged. yet all lighted with celestial
splendors.
The evangelists find it difficult to ex-
press the appearace of his form, clothing
and features, so one says the fashion of his
countenance was altered, or "made other"
than it had been, while here we have the
statement that he was transfigured or
mctamorphosed, u before them. The fash
ION of his countenance means, however,
only the appearance or look OF his person
so that it is not necessary to suppose any
real change in the material man whom the
disciples all the time called Lord.
While the wondering three gazed upon
the gloriied Son of Man, behold two other
forms appear. The unseen world, peopled
with unseen forms, which is ever all about
Gods saints was, for the time, revealed.
Moses and Elijah from among the host of
heavenly beings, doubtless near at the
time, came into view. They held converse
with Jesus. The theme of their converse
is given us. They spoke of his decease
or exit from earth which he should ac-
!. complish at Jerusalem.
Soon these guests of our Lord were
about to depart and Peter, who must al.
ways interpose some suggestion Of his own,
says: Lord, it is good for us to be here.
Let US make three tabernacles; one for
thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias"
Well do the evangelists say, "He wist not
what to say" and Not knowing what no
said"
Peter still thought of the things that be
of men, and he would provide for beings
from Heaven as he would have done for
those of earth. But while he thus talked
like man having no appreciation of the
glory with which he was surrounded. an
other appearance drew near more grand
and awe-inspiring. A bright cloud, Je-
hovah's chariot, overshadowed them, and
in alarm the disciples all fall to the ground
upon their faces. While lying thus pros
tratc in the awful presence of God, voice
out Of the cloud declares: This is my
! beloved Son: hear him." In moment
Jesus touched them, almost senseless with
fear, and when they look up the cloud, the
glory and the heavenly visitants arc gone
and they once more alone with Jesus.
Into the glorious chariot wherein Moses
and Elijah had, centuries before, been
taken from the earth, God has again re-.
ceved them, while he leaves His Son still
upon the earth to fulfill his mission of suf.
fering.
| In accordance with his custom, Jesus
strictly forbids his disciples to tell of the
occurrences in the mountain until after his
rising from the dead. This command they
obey. all the time questioning among
themselves what could he mean by his
rising from the dead.
On their way down from the mountain,
s it would appear. Peter, revolving in his
mind the appearance of Moses and Elijah,
asked the Master what the real meaning
of that scripture was which the scribes
made refer to the coming of Elijah. Jesus
virtually said that it had no reference to
what they had seen, but rather to the
ministry of John the baptist, who had
come already and had suffered death at
the hands OF those he sought to teach and
help.
Some suggestions of this lesson arc
worthy of notice. All the former agencies
Employed TO lead men to God found thcir
work completed in the ministry of Jesus.
The Law and the Prophets are one will
The Christian dispersation: Moses, Elijah
and Jesus stand united under the glory.
cloud upon the mount.
Everything pertaining to human re-
demption centers in the death of Christ.
AS Moses and Elijah could talk with Jesus
but few moments, they use all that time
in speaking of this central fact in redemp.