The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-16

FIRST WORDS.--There is very close
relation between this lesson and that of
last Sunday. The interview between Jesus
and His disciples, in which lie referred to
His crucihxion, made an impression,
without doubt, upon their minds that
needed to be changed. A whole week
passed away, the events of which are
not recorded by the evangelists. II Is be-
lieved that during that time lie had Jour-
neycd with the apostles still further to
the north-lerhaps fifty miles from Cae-
sarea Philippi-and that He had arrived
at Mount Helmon, the lottiest peak of the
Anti-Lebanon mountains. This is prob
ably the most remote place visited during
His lifetime. There He determined to re-
veal Himself as lie had not previously
done to His chosen ambassadors, that
their minds and hearts might be again
fixed upon Him, and His cause espUused
by them with greater ferver than ever
before. The H. spired silence in the Gospel
narrative is broken to give US an ac-
count OF the most remarkable event in
our Lords history.
MOUNTAIN PRAYER.-Jesus took
Peter, James and John Verse II apart
from the other disciples into Il high
mountain (Hermon). lie went for the
purpose of prayer duke iX, 2O. Noun
tains have been religious retreats (EX.
xix, - in all ages CRev. xxi, lW. Ancient
ly they were regarded as the dwelling
place of the gods a superstition originat-
ing probably in the feelings of reverence
there excited psalm XII, u. Jesus prac-
tiCed and cnioined solitary prayer MARK
/, 3O, but on this occasion lie set an
example of associate prayer. Perhaps lie
desired witnesses CII Cor. Kill. u, or pos
sibly this was His ideal of prayer
meeting (Matt. xviii, 2SD. The three Sc
leCted were favored on the other occa-
sions CAIatt. XVI, 80. They represented
three types of character and became eX-
poncnts of three different phases of
Christianity. Each wrote n Gospel or
was associated with a Gospel writer
James with Matthew, Peter with Mark.
AS Luke was associated with Paul who
also saw Jesus in His glortied state (I
Cor. iX, j., it has been suggested that
this was Christs method of preparing
His bioEraphers. While engaged in pray
er the countenance and apparel of Jesus
became white and clustering (Luke tx, 2S).
The original word expressing the change
rendered transfigured (vCrse p, indicates
that the glory was previously with Jesus,
but was then manifested Nothing was
added to Him. His real beauty appeared
lisa. XXxiii, 10. Communion with God on
other occasions was marked by similar
though less brilliant displays (Ex Iii, p.
ILLUSTRIOUS VlSITORS.-During this
prayer meeting Moses and Elias appear
(verse 81 The first flourished at the be-
ginning, the other in the middle of the
Levtical dispensation, preceding Jesus
by fourteen and nine centuries respective
| ly. Both had remarkable experiences
upon mountains far distant from this
| place (EX. xix, 20; l Kings, xix 81 Both
| departed this life in an unusual manner
| Deut. xXXiv. /; | Kings ii, IL. Their
names were reverently Joined by the later
| prophets as the two foremost characters
of the old dispensation (Mal. iv, 4-5). This
| meeting reminds us of the three and the
| two who appeared to Abraham and to
Lot { Gen. xviii, 1-2; xix, y. The erranc