The Progress., 1895-01-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VETERINARY 3-THE
NSFIGURATION.
Golden Text: This Is My Beloved Son,
Him-Matt XNIl:5-Luke IX:?S-36.


Hlm-Matt. NvIi:5-Luke IX:?S-36
Introductory. In our last lesson
we saw how Jesus revealed to his dis
csplcs for the first time that the only
way into his kingdom was by the
cross Their hopes Of great earthly
kingdom were all shattered. 1t was
necessary that they should know the
truth, and also that they should have
glimpse of the glory to which the
way of the cross would lead them
|. The Prayer Meeting on the
Mountain-vers. %, 20. IS. "About
an eight days after these sayings'
Matthew says six days, and Luke
says obo"t eight days. "He took
Peter and James and John.' The
other disciples were left at the ba Sc
Of the mountain. Jesus chose these
three, not through favoritism, but be-
cause their faithfulness in lower
studies had made them able to I'M
derstand and use the higher There
We're needed witnesses of the trans
tiguration in order to make it accom-
pllsh its purpose among men, and,
when the time came, to reveal the
glory of their king. "And went up
into mountain to pray" That is,
into some recess Of some high noun
tain. Probably Mount Hermon or
some Of its spurs in the vicinity OF
Cesarea. where Jesus and his dis
ciples were the week before. Tradi-
ton dating from before the fourth
century places it upon Mount Tabor
in Galilee The place of the trans
tiguratiOn is unknown as are ali the
places in which occurred the most
sacred events of Jesus life. Doubtless
the three disciples joined with their
teacher in prayer. And to this prayer
meeting was the promise fulfilled,
''where two or three are gathered to-
gether in my name, there am in the
midst of them"
II. The Transfguratio n-vers 20
'And as he prayed We know not
what he was pray ing for, but doubt
less for strength to endure and to
carry on his work, for faith and en-
lightenment for his disciples in their
gloom. "The fashion of his counte-
nance was altered" Lighted with
radiance both from with out and with
in. Christs face shone as the sun
with an innate, inherent light ANA
his raiment was white and glls ter
ing" Literally, lighte ming forth' as
though from some inward radiance.
III. The Three Glorifed Ones
vcrs. 80, 81. 80. There talked with
him two men," Human beings.
(Which were Moses and Ellas' ;
These persons were really present.
1t was not visio n.
81. "Who appeared in glory" In
their glorified bodies ''And spake OF
his decease." His going out of this
evil world. as the Israelites out OF the
bondage of Egypt (Which he should
accomplish at Jerusal !" This con-
versation would enable the disciples
: to see the importance and necessity
of that which they most dreaded and
which was to them the greatest mys'
,, terry. The trans6guration may have
been for the human comfort and aid
of Jesus himself, as the angels
strengthe him after Gethsemane.
: It opened the eyes of the disciples to
the true elories of their KING. They
now realized that they that be with
rs are more than they that be against
MS" II was that men might become
such glorious beings as they now saw
in Moses and Elijah that they were
suffering and toiling.
w. it's Good to Be Here-vers. 80,
g. 81 .'Were chad been) heavy with
,, s,een; snd when they were fully
awake" Our English version implies
thai they fell asleep and were awak-
, end to see his glory, while the orig
. insf implies that, though heavy with
.. sleep, they kept fully awake.
, 50. "As they departed" But be fore
they had actually left. "Peter said
INTO Jesus" Without realizing the
. .sll meaning of his proposition. "Mas'
> ter, it is good for US to be here"
! Would make him stronger. better,
more useful man all his lif'
!, long. "And let us make three
t abernacles." Booths made from
the bushes on the mountain. Thu
booths were for the three heavenl.
ones, to retain them, lest they depart
v. The Voice From Heaven-vers
1896. "a. "While he thus spake.
The response to Peters suggestion
I A wise answer to foolish prayer
There came cloud" A brigh
cloud. "And overshadowed them;
, the whole company, for "they en-
tered into the cloud" An incarna
. ton of the ineffable light of God.
| IS. "And there came voice." Th
same voice which had once, befor
I been heard at his baptism and shout
r be heard again. "Hear him." He
I my messenger.
: &c, "Aud when the voice was past.
: They looked up and "Jesus wa
a found alone" ''And told no man
t those days" AS Jesus commando
them.