The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-26
THE LESSON STORY.

Jesus at our leSSOn-date was an exile
from his country. Virulent enemies were
watching for his appearance across the
Gallee border. He fingered in the vicin
ity of Casarea Philippi.
We infer that the week following our
last lesson-date was PASSED in the vain en-
deavor to instruct the Twelve in regard to
the spiritual nature of his Kingdom
vain endeavor as yet, because his disciples
at this time literally could not understand
how the Christ could be brought to humil-
iating subsection to the authorities at Jeru-
salem; much less could they undertand
how he could through that very humiliation
and the death which would surely follow
it, come to triumph unparalleled in the
centuries.
Wherever in this region Jesus journeyed
one chief object would always be in sight,
namely, the towering snow-covered summit
of Hermon.
Mount Hermon is one of the great Leb-
anon range. In the northern section
of the range, out of sight of Palestine,
another peak vies with Hermon in alt-
tude,-possibly surpasses it by a few
hundred feet but Hermon is the greatest
mountain visible from the land of the Jews
Mr.. ]. Macgregor in 1890, while the noun
tain was towering before his eyes, wrote
concerning it: "The elevation of Hermon
may be estimated at about 10000 feet
The whole body of the mountain is lime
stone, like that which composes the main
ridge of Lebanon. The central peak rises
up, an obtuse truncated cone, from 1000
to 5000 feet above the ridges that radiate
from it; thus giving it more commanding
aspect than any ether mountain in Syria.
This cone is entirely naked, destitute alike
of trees and vegetation. Here and there
gray, thorny, cushion-shaped shrubs dot
the ground; but they can scarcely be said
to give variety to the scene; they are as
dry looking as the stones amid which they
spring up. The snow never disappears
from the summit. In spring and early
summer it is entirely covered, looking from
some points of view like great white
DOME" "From whatever part of Pales-
tine" says Dr.. Porter, "the Israelte turned
his eyes northward, Hermon was the termi-
mating view" Travellers report that it is
discernible in the deep basin of the Dead
Sea, an hundred and fifty miles at the
southwark. The snow of Hermon was
the source of the Jordan river; its snow
also made ''the dew of Hermon" SO well
come in Palestine. From its slopes or
vicinage came the cedars of Lebanon which
entered into the construction of Solomon's
temple and luxurious palaces. Hermon
was the ancient Sirion or Sion; from
Joshua's day it had marked the northern
boundary of the land of the Jews.
From the hill which rises 500 feet above
Nazareth at the northward, the hill which
the Nazarenc boys are now seen to almost
daily climh,-Jesus must often in his boy
hood have seen the gilded height. "Snowy
Hermon, towering above in the north," is
one of the objects which no modern trav-
eler who passes a day at Nazareth can
afterwards forget. That Jesus in his ma
turity should ardently desire to scale the
familiar height,-from which he could view
the entire domain Of his native land,-is a
fact fitted to the circumstances and in it.
self reasonable.
i. The Disciples in Trance
behold Jesus, while Praying, be-
come LuminOus,-vs 2S, 20.
After week passed in the slow task of
making the disciples understand the true
nature of his mission, Jesus foOk 70ih him
Peter and jain and James and 70ent ub
into tie wOHRtaeH 10 pray.
Why Jesus should select three of his
disciples to be his companions in the
mountain sacrament, and should leave the
remaining nine at the mountain-base, we
can easily conjecture. He anticipated an
experience which only those nearest to
him in spiritual likeness could share. Only
faith can open the inner door of the spirit;
only the faithful can be worthy of clear
spiritual vision. While Jesus had demon
strated loves impartial heroism and sym
pathy by reaching forth his hand and
touching leper, he was nevertheless SEN
sitive to spiritual companionship. He had
no doubt before this begun to observe sa-
tanic traits developing in Judas. He had