The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FORl
February 3.
Lesson Text: ssThe Transfiguration, ''
Luke TX, .2S-36-Golden
Text: Matt. xviii, 5
--Commentary.

%. "And It came to pass about an eishtl
days after these sayinQs BE took Peter and
John and James and went up into noun
tain to pray After telling them OF His
sufferings and death and OF the necessity of
His followers denying self and taking up the
cross daily as IN the last lesson, He added
that some of those standing about Him
should not taste death till they had seen the
kingdom of God (verse 27). Both in MAJ
thew and Mark as we'll as In Luke this state
ment is Immediately followed by the record
OF the TRANSPORTATION (Math xvi. 28 xviii,
i; Mark *. ], 2), which leads US to con-
clude that whatever he meant by the king
dom OF God was shown forth In the events and
facts OF the TRANSPORTATION. When Matthew
and Mark say latter six days." they evi-
dently refer to the intervening days, while
Luke includes the day on which he spoke OK
the cross and the day OF the etransdguratton-
29. "And as He prayed. the fashion OF His
countenance was altered, and His raiment
was white and glistening." Matthew says
that His face did shine as the sun and HIS
raiment was white as the light (Matt. xvii,
i2). Mark says His raiment became shining,
exceeding white as snow (Mark *, 81. Luke
alone speaks OF His praying at the time. >
When John saw Him on Patmos full sixty
years after this. His countenance was as the
sun shineth In His strength (Rev. L, 16). SO
that we have here the outshining OF the glory
that was concealed within that mortal body,
as the glory over the mercy seat in the holy
OF holes was concealed by the veil which was
symbol OF His body (Heb. <, 20(. When
the face Of Moses shone as he came down
from the mount, 1t was not from within, but
the reflected glory upon which he had been
looking so long (Ex. xxxiv., 29, 30). Com
pare II Cor. ILL.,. Is.
80. "And. behold, there talked with Him
two men, which were Moses and Elijah"
Moses is suggestive OF the law and Elijah OF
the prophets, for both law and prophets
spake OF Him, and He fulfilled all written I'M
each Ouke XIV, ~. ~. But Moses Is
also suggestive OF the risen saints and Eli jaaI
l. Of the translated saints who shall meet Him
on His way as He returns to the earth and
return with Him when He comes In power
and glory as Israel's Messiah and King OF
Kings q Thes. w., 1918 Col. iii. ~ The
shall see Him, and being convicted OF sim
and converted like Saul OF Tarsus on the
way TO Damascus shall welcome Him as
their Messiah, saying: "Lo, this Ia our God.
We have waited Cor Him, and he will save
u.s."
81. "Who appear ed in glory and spoke Of
His decease which He should accomplish at
jerusalem" It was by virtue Of this death
about to be accomplished at Jerusalem that
Moses had for 1400 years and Elijah for 800
years been enjoying the glor1es OF heaven.
By the same blood had Abel entered glory
and oil from him to the present time and on
to the end, for without shedding Of blood
there Is no remission Of sins, for It Is the
blood that msketh an atonement for the soul
(Heb. *, 22; Lev. xviii, 11). The saints In
glory sing, "Thou art worthy, for Thou vast
slain and hast redeemed US to God BY TT =
blood" while all on. earth and In heav n
sing, "Unto Him that loved US and washed
us from our sins In His own blood" (Rev. ",
50. "But Peter and they that were with
Him were heavy with sleep, and when they
were awake they saw His glory and the two
men that stood with Him." Israel shall be,
heavy with sleep when He comes, for all the;
virgins are said to be slumbering and sleep
ing when the Bridegroom comes With HU
bride (Math. XIV, /, Vulgate and Syrlac
,veraions), and this agrees With the call from
the prophet "Arlse, shine, for thy light Is
come, and the glory Of the Lord is risen
thy Light and kings to the brightness OF thy
rising" elsa. X. 1-3). The Lord awaken Us
to behold His glory BY faith. E
49, "And It came to pass as they departed !.
from Him Peter said unto Jesus, Master, It !
Is good for as to he here. and let Us make
three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for
Moses, and one for ELL jah, not knowing what
he said" They seem to have known Moses
and Elijah, though they had never seem
them before. It may be TINT In the glory We,
shall need no introductions, but know each,
one instantly and be known by him. When!
we have come to mount OF blessing, It ts
natural that We should want to stay, as
Peter did, but there Is work to be done and Y
suffering ones to be attended to.
"a. "While He thus spake there came O.
cloud and oyershadowed them, and they
feared as they entered into the cloud"
Matthew says thati. was bright cloud. The!
cloud Is often associated with His presence,
as when the pillar OF cloud led Israel all
through the wilderness, and when he as
cended from Olivet cloud received Him out
of their sight. When he shall come again.
It will be In the clouds OF heaven with power
and great glory. In Nahum l., 8, We read
that the clouds are the dust of His feet. They
were afraid because Of the cloud. Ever
since Adam was afraid and hid from God In
Eden man has been easily made afraid, and
like the disciples IN the boat we are often!
afraid when it is Himself.
35. "And there came voice out Of the
cloud, saying: This Is Nv beloved Son. Hear
Him." Matthew says that the voice added
"In whom am we'll pleased" Here. as at!
the baptism, Is clear distinction betweenl
the Father and the Son; and also, as there,
the Father testimony 10 bis pleasure II tnoi
Son. Now, when we are we'll pleased with
Jesus and heartily hear and receive Him, the
Father becomes we'll pleased with US for
Jesuss sake. How important the words,
HHear Him." It Is NOT hear what this or
that one says about Him, but hear Him. In.
tails connection read and observe Deut.i
xviii, 18, 19. ..-....-...,'
So. "And when the voice was past Jesus
was found alone. And they kept IL close and,
told no man In those days any Of those things
which they had SEEN" Matthew says thar
Jesus told them 10 tell the vision to no man
till after His resurrection (Math. xviii, 9).'
He had given them every possible proof thar
ho was their Messiah, but they only rejected
Him, and now He Is journeying to the cruel
fSion and to the grave, the resurrection
from which will be the crowning proof OF
His divinity. So with US who believe In Him
it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but
we know that when He shall appear we shall
be like Elm. The one thing to do mean
while is to see no man save 'Jesus only
(Math. xviii, s.. My soul, wait thou only
upon God, for my expectation Is from Him
ops Ixii.. 5).-Lesson Helper.
Exiles No Longer. ..-
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