The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-26
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By n Study OF the Inter.
national Sunday-scheOl Lesson Appointed for
Feb. ). st. Matt. Il f-13.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
Indicated ahovei
SUBJEcr: TIE TRANSPORTATION OF CHRIST.
We are to study Christ's 21th specific mira
Gle. One should read also ST. Mark 9 2-S and
st. Luke, 8: 2S-36.
The TRANSPORTATION Of Christ took place in
May of the year % A. ID. 1t was probably
night scene. Reasons: /. st. Luke, 9:21,
shows Christ went up into the mountain to
pray. He usually gave up night hours to such
devotions. (St Matt, IA 23; st. Luke, 8 : :t2.) ,
The glorifeation attending the TRANSPORTATION
would be greatly heightened by darkness. 3.
The Apostles We're asleep. (St. Luke, 8 32.)
4. They did not descend till early in the morn
ing of next day. tSt Luke, 9:37.)
We notice the place of the TRANSPORTATION Is
not named. Possibly the omission was inten-
honal, so as to prevent superstitious associa-
tions with the spot Some hold that we are to
understand Mount Tabor. This is about eight
miles northeast of Nazareth. For the last Is
centuries almost universal consent existed as to
Mt. Tabor having been the mount of TTansfgu-
ration. In St. Matt, Is: Is, we find Christ-at
Cesarea Philippi. The distance from Cesarea
PhiIippi to Mount Tabor was about 54 miles
But six days interviewed, III ~ giving ample
time to go from one place to the other Mean
der puts he.Transfguration in Galilee on ac-
count of the presence Of scribes just after the
occurrence. (St. Mark, 9:14.) 1t is said that
on Mt Tabor are three contiguous grottoes
representing the tabernaeles which st. Peter
proposed to arrange for Christ aud his two
visitors from Paradise To the objection, Mt
Tabor was too thickly inhabited for deed evil
IDENTIFY intended to be quite private it is replied
the circumstance happened at midnight and
would hence be retired
Lightfoot questioned as to ut. Tabor, and be-
heved mountain near Cesarea PhiIippi must
be understood; to wit Mount Hermon. Christ
was last in the vicinity of Cesarea Philippi.
lSt Matt, 16: 49, The retirement and free
dom from population make it peculiarly adapt
ed. The reason why the opinion gained it was
Mt Tabor may have been the fact that Little
MT Hermon was very near Mt. Tabor, and the
two were often associated together. tPs, SO:
12.) Mt. Tabor was inhabited to its very sum-
NIT Robinson shows a fortified city was at its
very top long before the TRANSPORTATION. 1t
was not till the fourth century Mt Tabor was
pitched on as the mount of the famous incl
dent which we study. The part of Mt. Her
mon was spur Of the Lebanon Mountains. 1t
ran into the plain of the Jordan about six
miles north Of Cesarea Philippi, and was prob
ably the mount known as Mons Paneum. 1t
could not have been high up for the peak is
always snow-tipped. See white as snow in
ST. Mark, 8: 3. Was not the expression sug-
gested by the snow crest, possibly Illuminated
by the moons rays?
The Commentator Lange says:
Since the fourth century tradition has fixed on
Mount Tabor, in Galiiee, as the locality of this
event inns opinion appears to be untenable, for
Two reasons: Robinson holds that its summit
inhabited at this time and not only So but it is inn
probable that Jesus would have left his retreat
the highlands of Gaulonitis and transferred the
scene of of his most secret revelations to Cali
lee, where he was everywhere prosecuted. The
highest mountain-top in Ganlonits was Mount
Hermon. Accordingly, some fix upon Hermon
itself as the scene OF this event; others on Mount
Panias, near Cesarea Philippi. But, from the de-
serpiion OF the mountain, and the statement IN
verse that they came down, it seems likely,
from its hight, to have been Mount Hermon."
The three principal characters figuring in
the TRANSPORTATION were Christ, Moses and
Elijah. Moses died 1451 B. G., and his body
was buried on Mt. Nebo. Elijah was carried
up into Heaven in chariot B. c. $685. from the
cast side of the Jordan opposite Jericho.
Notice the following facts as to Christ: l.
lie chose SITS. Peter James and John to be wit
nesses OF the grand manifestation, leading them
up into the mountain to the spot of the Trans
fguration. 2 Reaching the place, Christ
prayed. g. Christ was transfgured. a. AS to
his FACET shoIe as the sun, intimating Jesus
is the Sun of Righteousness. B. As to his raj
nlent-it became white as iight-it shOne was
glistening-it was white as snow-it was be-
yond the power OF any bleacher to equal such
whitepess. This light emanated from within.
The light that one time shone so luminousy
from Moses when he stood before the cleft of
the rock was the luster reflected from God on
him. borrowed Christ's brillianey was from
within. That. of Moses could be borne if one
covered his face with a vail, but that from
Christ bursts through his apparel, making even
that glistening. 4. Moses and Elijah appeared
and held conversation with Christ. 5. A voice
was heard like that at the baptism Of Jesus,
saying, This is my Beloved Son in whom /
am well pleased 6. Christ touched the
alarmed Disciples and spoke kindly to them
heir hpp
greater than Moses and Elijah. Those two
came to Christ to surrender to him their offices,
commissions or dispensations. No wonder Mo-
ses came for in Christall types were fulfilled. No
wonder Elijah came for IN Christ the prophe-
cies were all accomplished. g. In the Trans
iguration we see Christ in his native element.
Human life was a constant disguise of Christ.
Reasons for the TRANSPORTATION: l. To ter
inmate the ceremonial and prophetic dispen-
sations 2. To reconcile the Apostles to a ces-
sation of the Jewish system of religion and the
beginning of the Christian. 8. To prepare the
Apostles for Christ's death by prior intima-
ton a. To add to their faith by a new proof
of Christ's divinity. 5. To strengthen them
for their future trials by giving them an ideal
of the glory to come. 6. 70 show the reality
of the world of spirits. z. To teach the immor-
taIity Of the soul. 8. To furnish proof of the
doctrine of the resurrection. (St. Matt, 16: 27)
As to the painting, THE TRANSPORTATION"
by Raphael, see Harper'S Magazine for Febru-
The Episcopal Church commemorate the
TRANSPORTATION ON Aug. s of each year.
Suggestions:
| /. Seek Gods will as your standard. This is
| true of passive Christianity. :" If thou wilt"
| (St Matt, 17:4.) Do not even build taberna-
| cles churches, houses, without consulting God
| If he decide you shall not construct be submis-
sive. This principle of yielding to Gods viii
is also true of active Christianity. Do any
| thing if God will.
| 2 Pray {See st. Luke, 8: 2S) Great bles-
sings will come to us in prayer. Our faces
may shine. The Father will own us as his
dear children. Heaven will draw near to
us. We shall be TRANSPORTED, changed in
| life and character. 1t is good to be in the
| place of prayer. Give attention to retired
prayer Have your mountains or quiet spots
where you go to meet God. That on Mt. Her
mon was religious service with only six per-
| sons and yet it was very profitable one. God
! is with two or three who pray.
3. Hear Christ. We are commanded so to do.
| (St Matt, II So To hear implies willingness
| to do. Obey Christ.
4. 1t is well for US often in conversation to
| talk about the relation of Christ's death to our
welfare. The matter considered at the inter-
view of Moses and Elijah with Christ was the
''decease which he should accomplish at Jeru-
salem"
5. Away to work. st. Peter wanted to stay