The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-02
THE TRANSPORTATION.

/ THE TRANSPORTATION.
SIXTH LESSON OF THE iNTERNA-
TlONAL s. s. SERIES, FEB. S, 1888.
Comments by Rev. William Newton, d. d.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xvii, 1-13.
Golden Text, Luke tx, 35-Memorize
Verses SO.
[From Lesson Helper Quarterly. by permission Of
H 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. l. e., Elijah Tabernacles,
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.
Y. l. Is there something peculiar in this
specific statement of timea 1t is not the usl-
al custom of the Evangelists. Commonly
their form of expression is latter this" or
ssafter 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, 2S? Does it
not point the divine assurance that the trans
fguration was simply a visible representa-
I tion object lesson of the kingdoms 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
~. III -
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 disciples
"were heavy with sleep" The transfgura-
tion 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
| transfguration? Some bodily change3 No.
| Something wrought on him from without
| Clearly not He was ''this same Jesus" all
through. The same in this putshining of his
| glory, as when in lowlier garb he assembled
the mountain. It was change in appear
anee only. 1t was ''the fashion of his
countenance," that was altered j. e.. its
outward appearance was changed His
countenance itself remained the sama
| His raiment was not changed. It 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 tabernacles Was lot hs
the true tabernacle of Coda Did not that
glory constantly abide within hima And
1,,,& Jo44s
glory shine fortha 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 visitents, and
o Their talking with Jesus.
As to Ql we are expressly told they were
s'two men, 1t was not an apparation. They
were not spirits, They We're men-just this
and nothing less,
As to C2l 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 thiugs.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. A. It 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 scene
as this they opened their eyes, and such words
a. ~ Ax,I Do4 4
| by both, broke out 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.
VI Two things invite attention in this
verse, i. O.,
l. 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. 1t was not an or
dinary cloud. Would the disciples in that
case have cleared as they entered into the
cloudn-or as the cloud came upon them2
Would it then have been called'.'a bright
cloud"-or cloud glorious with inward
ighta
And as to e., Peter expressly settled this
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 His
Incarnate Son. 1t was the attestation of his
sonship. And as such, as the Incarnate God,
they were in all their future ministry to hear
him. What he taught they were to affirm.
And his word must point every duty; and
settle every dispute
V. 6-S The vision draws to a close. Be-
to1
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. 9. Is the reason of this charge to be
found in the truth, that this vision is fore
shadowipg of the future of the church il,
glorys As such it could not be understood
till Jesus was risen from the dead, and the
spirit unfolded its meaning to them.
V. 10. 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 comet In that case why should he
Gomez What is the use or purpose Of his
comingi '' 20 80
V. lib. And in this reply two truths ap-
, pear, j. e.,
1. The coming Of Elijah, and,
2. The mission of John in its relation to
that coming.
GENERAL LESSONS,
l, The meaning Of the TRANSPORTATION we
cannot well mistake here Was it not reve-
1ation of the real nature and position of their
Lord and of the coming glory of his church
And how it remained with them, and cheered
and strengthened them in the hours of theil
darkest trials we very well know, 1t made
them see and know under the Spirits teach
| ing, that the words they preached about
7 Jesus were not "cunningly devised fables
! 1t taught them the majesty and dignity Of
: his person and office; the glory of his king
dom, and his coming again to set it up. Oh
all these, this transformation was an illustra
tion and proof-at once glorious and irresis
( tible. '''''f''- = =
D q The TRANSPORTATION shows the certainty
of life beyond the grave 1t has no meaning
il it does not mean this
i I'll l. s y