The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-02-03
THE TRANSPORTATION.
SIXTH LESSON OF THE INTeRNA.
TloNAL s. 8. SERIES, FEB. 5, 1888.

Comments by Rev. william Newton, ID. d.
Text OF the Lesson, Matt. xvii, Tia.
Golden Text. Luke IN, aS--Memorise
Verses 30.
From Lesson Helper Quarterly. by permission OF
II. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia, pubsher.l
Notes days, l. 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. Taber 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-
cerning John.
v. 1. Is there something peculiar In this
specific statement of timei II is not the usu-
al custom of the Evangelists. Commonly
their form Of expression is after this" or
'after these thingsn But here the time ia
definitely stated. And was not this done to
show that this narrative is the fulfillment OF
the statement in chapter xvi, 2Si Does it
not point the divine assurance that the trans
figuration was simply visible representa-
ton or object lesson of the kingdoni And
how glorious an illustration 1t was. Neither
Matthew nor Mark tells us why Jesus went
up into this mountain, but Luke tells us 1t
was "to pray" And we know that OH all
the great epochs of his life he thus sought
communion with the Father.
V. O. 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
transfgurationf Some bodily changel No.
Something wrought ON him from without
Clearly not He was 'this same Jesus" oil
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. It was ''the fashion Of his
countenance,n that was altered; ie., It's
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 glisteningn - as every opaque body
does in intense light. 1t was the out
shining of his indwelling glory. Did not thA
Schcchinah--the glory of the divine presence
abide within the tabernaclef Was lot he
the true tabernacle of Godi Did not that
glory constantly abide within bimi AMI
what was TRANSPORTATION but letting .tis
glory shine forthi II this is the true account
of the matter-and who can doubt it-how
wondrously the glory Of his humiliation IL
intensified.
VS.. We have in this verse two points:
. l. The two visitants, and
Their talking with Jesus
As to Q) 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 C9 Luke tells us of what they talked
1t was ''of his decease or departure, which ho
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.
VA 1t must have been at this time-or
while they were talking-that the disciples
awoke And what vision burst upon them.
Jesus in his glory Moses and Elias with the
splendors of the heavenly world upon them.
death upon the cross. Now on such q 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 q
man writing under the guidance of the spirit
of truth would have recorded it.
". 8. Two things invite attention in this
verse, l. e.,
l. The cloud itself, and,
2. The voice out Of the cloud.
AS to C) 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 feared as they entered into the
cloudn--or as the cloud came upon themi
Would it then have been called ''a bright
cloudn-or a cloud glorious with inward
ightl
And as to C9, Peter expressly settled this
question-if indeed, there could have been .
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
Y. 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. o. Is the reason of this charge to be
found in the truth, that this vision is fore
shadowing of the future Of the church in
gloryl 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, il 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
comet What is the use or purpose Of his
comingi
v. li-1s. And in this reply two truths ap-
pear, i. e.,
/. 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 a reve-
lation of the real nature and position of their
Lord and of the coming glory of his churchi
And how it remained with them, and cheered
and strengthened them in the hours of their
darkest trials we very well know. 1t made
them see and know under the Spirits teach
ing, that the words they preached about
Jesus were not "cunningly devised fables.n
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 OF
all these, this TRANSPORTATION was an illustra-
tion and proof---at once glorious and irresis-
tible.
2 The TRANSPORTATION shows the certainty