The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-28
FOURTH EDITION


DIR. Grandson ut Grace.
Rev. q. N. Grandson, d. D., pastor
OF Ezion M. Il. Church, occupied fhe-
pulpit of Grace NJ. L. Church yester-
day morning. DR.. Grandson took as
his text eight verses of the ninth
Ichapter of st. Luke, beginning with
the twenty eighth verse. The topic
|of his discourse was the transiigura-
ton Of Christ.
He said In part: Jesus underwent
three great changes during his earth
y experience, by which no was pre-
pared for the accomplishment OF His
work. At two of these preparatory pc.
lrlods He received the Divine attosta-
Ition OF His character and authority
The first of these renal kable prepare
tory changes occurred at His meet
ling with John the Baptist. Johns
baptism was unto repentance and in
anticipation Of the coming OF Christ.
When Jesus appeared lie was recog.
nized by John. but tho people did not
know Him. He had gone to this bap-
ltlsm IN attestation OF Johns character
aud to sanction and give authority
to his preaching, for He said OF H.: ut
becometh us to fulfill uil righteous
ness. In Matthew'S description of
this baptism 1t is said: ''Jesus, after
lie was baptiaed. went up straightway
out OF the water"
from the water to the high right bank
OF the Jordan and then. standing above
the people, so that all could SEQ the
Holy Ghost descending upon Him In
the form of dove, and 50 that all
Icould hear the voice OF God declaring
who and what lie was: "Ihis is my
beloved Son In whom | am well
pleased
Thus at the beginning OF His mis
sion ON the earth, and in the presence
of an assembled multitude-it is said
that all Jerusalem and Judea and
around about Jordan went out &c
John's baptlsm-he received tho sub
,lllme attestatlon OF His divinity; the
descent of the Holy Ghost with Divine
Authority.
The second preparatory change was
when after fasting forty dHys In tht
Wilderness He met and conqured the
devil.
This was wonderful scene. This
lpromise of earthly power and GLORY
had never before been made to man
All the kingdoms OF the world were
nade to pass before jesus in panora
ltnic view all their richness and beaut.
was revealed. 1t was promise o
universal dominion. 1t was the full
Itillment of ambitions grandost dream
All these Will | give you" said tn
devil, If you will fall down and wor
lship mo-" Tho answer was a declara
ltion Of authority. lie who had beef
acknowledged to he the Son OF Go
commanded: Get thee behind Inc
satan. II is written thou shalt no
tempt the Lord thy Cod
The third great preparatory chang
was on tho Mount of TRANSPORTATION
llle.e lie was again to be procIuime
the Son OF God. This time Ills chnrat
tor and authority was TO be declare
: in tho presence OF witnesses bot
quick and dead. 1 imagine it wa
evening. jesus had taken Peter an
james and John anu gone into I'll
mountain to pray. As thay climbe
the rugged sides OF Hermon tho shat
lows dcepened into darkness. Their
wrapped in the shadows of nigh
Jesus began to pray. As lie nraye
His face began to shine He was pleat
ing with God. not as lie prayed In tn
snrllon for releHse from His grea
undertaking, but for power over sil
lie was not afraid Of death but some
how lie shrunk from contact with sin
| think lle came into some mys
ferrous relation with sin. Ito felt II
power as no other man felt IL. III
was man, pure souled man, and a
such lie bore the sins OF the worlt
lie dreaded the communicating touc
OF Sin and shrunk from It,, The sacr
lice lle was to offer must be withou
spot OF blemlsh.
The first lesson of the Transiigurf
ton to mankind is the answering G
the old questions: "lf man dio sha
. lie live again. Moses and Elias WEI
\ seen and recognized by leter who ha
mot known them.
The second lesson is that the ne,
ldispensution Is superior to the Old. /
the presence of tho law-giver and Il
lptOphet an answer to Peters propos
to build memorial tnberuacles God ht
declared Christ to 10 the Son of Gc
land commanded them 10 hear Hi
Tho third lesson is for the comic
loi His people through the comif
T. trials OF their faith in tho sulfert
land death oil Jesus Oh The cross. Al
ITO teach them In what body TIN
should nppcnr. and to answer aillrI
ntelS the question: 'Shall we knC
cacA each other there"