Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-03
THE TRANSPORTATION.
SIXTH LESSON OF THE INTERNA.
TlONAL S. S. SERIES, FEB. s, 1888.

Comments by Rev. william Newton, ID. ID.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xvii, .1-I3.
Golden Text, Luke TX, 35-Memorize
Verses 90.
from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission Of
II. S. Hoffman, Philadelphia, publisher.l
Notes.-Six days, i. e., from the time Of
speaking the words in the preceding verse.
High mountain, probably Tabor though we
do not know. TRANSPORTATION, changed in
| appearance. Elias, !. e., Elijah. Tabei nacles,
tents Overshadowed, surrounded or shut
them in. Sore afraid or very greatly fright
ened. The vision, the things you have seen.
Restore, bring back or make as they were.
Listed, desired or chose to do. OF them, by
them or at their hands OF John, or con-
corning John.
V. l. Is there something peculiar in this
specific statement of timer 1t is not the usu-
al custom of the Evangelists. Commonly
their form of expression is latter this or
"after these things" But here the time is
definitely stated And was not this done to
show that this narrative is the fulfillment of
the statement in chapter xvi, 2S, Does it
not point the divine assurance that the trans
| fguration was simply visible representa-
ton or object lesson of the kingdom, And
Matthew nor Mark tells us why Jesus went
up into this mountain, but Luke tells us it
was "to pray And we know that OH all
the great epochs of his life he thus sought
communion. with the Father.
V. g The course of the narrative seems to
have been this. From some cause here as
afterward in the garden, these disciples
"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 changed No.
Something wrought on him from without
Clearly not. He was this same Jesus" all
through The same in this outshning 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 e., its
outward appearance was changed His
countenance itself remained the same.
His raiment was not changed 1t only
shone in the light. 1t became white
and glistening" - as every opaque body
does in intense light 1t was the out
shining of his indwelling glory. Did not th.
Schcchinah-the glory of the divine presence
abide within the tabernaclel Was Lot he
the true tabernacle of God' Did not That
glory constantly abide within him! AMI
what was TRANSPORTATION but letting .Eis
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.
" g. We have in this verse two points:
/. The two visitants and
2. Their talking with Jesus
AS to On we are expressly told they were
''two men," 1t was not an apparation They
were not spirits. They We're men-just this
and nothing less.
AS to o. 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" 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. 4. 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 out into this most extraordi-
nary proposition. Surely no one but Peter
could have done this. And no one but
man writing under the guidance of the spirit
of truth would have recorded it,
V. 5. Two things invite attention in this
verse, l. e.,
l. The cloud itself, and,
g The voice out of the cloud.
As to % it seems from Lukes account,
that the cloud came upon them just as Moses
and Elias were departing. 1t was not an or
binary cloud. Would the disciples in that
case have feared as they entered into the
cloud'--or as the cloud came upon them!
Would it then have been called "a bright
cloud'-or cloud glorious with inward
lightl
And as to C9, Peter expressly settled this
question-if indeed there could have been
question about it. He says it was 1.-The voice
from the excellent glory"-the voice of God
the Father, giving honor and glory to His
lncarnate Son. 1t was the attestation of his
sonship. And as SUCH as the lncarnate God,
they were in all their future ministry to hear
Hlill. w nat lie taught tuey were 10 dlIIlu
And his word must point every duty; and
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 the
ground. The cloud passes, and Jesus-with
every trace of his indwelling glory shut in
rises, comes and touches them, and bids them
not to be afraid.
V. 0. Is the reason of this charge to be
found in the truth that this vision is a fore
shadowing of the future of the church in
glory. As such it could not be understood
till Jesus was risen from the dead, and the
spirit unfolded its meaning to them.
V. TO- The word then seems to give
great point to this question of the disciples.
1t is as if they had said why then-in that
case, if the son of man is TO rise from the
dead-do the Scribes assert that Elias must
first GOMEZ In that case why should he
come! What is the use or purpose of his
coming'
V. ll-l3. And in this reply two truths ap-
pear, /. e.,
/. The coming of Elijah, and,
2. The mission of John in its relation to
| a