Smyrna times., 1888-02-01

Text of the Lesson, Matt. xvii, 1-13,
Golden Text, Luke tx, 35-Memorize
Verses 90.
iron Lesson Helper Quarterly. by permission Of
ID. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia, publisher.l
Notes.-Six days, l. e., from the time Of
speaking the words in the preceding versa
High mountain, probably Tabor, though we
do not know. TRANSPORTATION, changed in
appearance Elias, i. e., Elijah Tabernacles
tents. Overshadowed, surrounded or sbnt
them In. Sore afraid, OF very greatly FRIGHT
ened. The vision, the things you have seen.
Restore, bring back or make as thew were
Listed, desired or chose to do. Of them. bv
them or at their hands. Of John. or con-
corning John.
V. l. Is there something peculiar in this
specific statement of times 1t is not the usu-
al custom of the Evangelists. Commonly
their form of expression is "after this. y or
latter these things But here the time is
definitely stated. And was not this done to
show that this narrative is the fulfllment Of
the statement in chapter xvi, %? Does it
not point the divine assurance that the trans
tiguration was simply a visible representa-
ton or object lesson of the kingdom? And
how glorious an illustration it was. Neither
Matthew nor Mark tells us why Jesus went
up into this mountain, but Luke tells us it
was Ito pray" And we know that OH all
the great epochs Of his life he thus sought
communion with the Father.
V. 2. The course of the narrative seems to
have been this. From some cause. here as
afterward in the garden, these disciplee,
"were heavy with sleep" The transfgura-
ton had taken place; his heavenly visitants
were on the scene, and their talking with
Jesus was going on, before they awaked.
Then the other events of the narrative took
place as here related. And what was this
TRANSPORTATION! Some bodily change? No.
Something wrought on him from without
Clearly not. He was 'this same Jesus' all
through. The same in this outshining of his
glory, as when in lowlier garb he assembled
the mountain. 1t was a change in appear
ance only. 1t was ''the fashion of his
countenance," that was altered; lie. its
outward appearance was changed. His
countenance itself remained the same.
His raiment was not changed. It only
shone in the light. It ''became white
and glistening' - as every OPAQUE body
does in intense light 1t was the out
shining Of his indwelling glory. Did not thu
Schcchinah-the glory of the divine presence
abide within the tabernacle? Was Lot ha
the true tabernacle of God? Did not that
glory constantly abide within him? AMI
what was TRANSPORTATION but letting his
glory shine forthl If this is the true account
of the matter-and who can doubt it-how
wOndrously the glory Of his humiliation is
intensified
V. 3. We have in this verse two points:
1. The two visitants and
2. Their talking with Jesus.
As to o. we are expressly told they were
"two men," 1t was not an apparation They
were not spirits. They were men-just this
and nothing less.
As to q Luke tells us Of what they talked.
1t was ''of his decease or departure, which he
should accomplish at Jerusalem" Doubtless
the death Of Christ was the theme of the in
tensest wonder in the heavenly world. Angels
and departed believers-not alike, indeed, or
for the same reason, still as really-"desire
to look into these things.n And here the two
men, representing the law and the prophets,
appeared in glory to talk with their Lord
about it. And the disciples heard them talk.
V. T. 1t must have been at this time-or
while they were talking-that the disciples
awoke. And what a vision burst upon them.
Jesus in his glory. Moses and Elias with the
splendors Of the heavenly world upon them.
And the theme Of their talk was their Lords
death upon the cross. Now on such a scene
as this they opened their eyes, and such words
as these met their ears. And Peter, unawed
by both, broke Ous into this most extraordi
nary proposition. Surely no one but Peter
could have done this. And no one but a
man writing under the guidance Of the spirit
of truth would have recorded it.
V. s. Two things invite attention in thi.
verse, l. e.,
1. The cloud itself, and,
2. The voice out of the cloud.
As to ~ it seems from Luke's account
that the cloud came upon them Just as Moses
and Elias were departing. It was not an or.
binary cloud. Would the disciples in that
case have cleared as they entered into the
cloud"-or as the cloud came upon themi
Would it then have been called "a bright
cloud"-or a cloud glorious with inward
hght3
And as to C9, Peter expressly settled thi,
questiOn-if indeed, there could have been a
question about it. He says it was ''the voice
from the excellent glory'-the voice Of God
the Father, giving honor and glory to Hi.
lncarnate Son. 1t was the attestation of hi.
sOnship. And as such, as the Incarnate God
they were in all their future ministry to heal
him. What he taught they were to affirm
And his word must point every duty; anC
settle every dispute.
V. 6-S. The vision draws to a close Be
fore that voice, which then, they understood
not, the disciples ''sore afraid' fell to tn,
ground. The cloud passes, and Jesus-witE
every trace Of his indwelling glory shut in
rises, comes and touches them, and bids Their
not to be afraid
Y. 8. Is the reason Of this charge to b,
found in the truth, that this vision is fore
shadowing Of the future Of the church il
glory? As such it could not be understood
till Jesus was risen from the dead, and til,
spirit unfolded its meaning to them.
V. 10. The word ''then,n seems to Civ,
great point to this question Of the disciples
1t is as if they had said "why then-in tha
case, if the son Of man is to rise from tn,
dead-dO the Scribes assert that Elias mus
first come? In that case why should h,
comet What is the use OF purpose Of hi
coming3
v. lib. And in this reply two truths ap
pear, i. e.,
1. The coming Of Elijah, and,
2. The mission of John in its relation Il
that coming.
GENERAL LESSONS.
1. The meaning Of the TRANSFORMATION vi