Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-04-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON III.-APRIL IL MAT
THEW II: 1-9-THE TRANS
FIGURATION.
Golden Text I'VE Behold His Glory, the
Glory of His Only Begotten Som
John I4-Mountain Prayer Meeting
Historical Setting.


| Historical Setting.
| Time-Autumn of A. ID. 20; week after
| the last lesson; in the night, probably
| toward morning. Compare Luke 3: SD
Andrews. New Ed. Place-Probably
Mount Hermon, or of it's spurs, in
the vicinity of Cesarea, where Jesus and
| his disciples were the week before. as we
saw in our last lesson though tradition
dating from before the fourth century
places it on Mount Tabor in Galilee. The
section includes the TRANSPORTATION and
the events which Immediately followed
1t Matt. Il: 1-23l. Place in the life of
Christ. About the middle of the third
year of his ministry. 1t was a marked
epoch in his work, revealing his true ma
ture after foretelling his sufferings and
death
And after six days Six complete
days. Luke counts the parts of days be-
fore and after these six. 1t was week
after the conversation recorded In our
last lesson, in which Jesus made known
to his disciples that he must ere long
suffer and die, and be raised again; a
revelation that shocked the disciples and
threw them into the gloom of the dun
geon OF giant Despair. Jesus taketh Pc
ter. James and John 1t was the same
favored three who had gone with Jesus
| into the room where he raised Jairus
| daughter. Into high mountain apart
| from the other disciples and far from
| the madding crowd" Luke g.: 2S, 29) tells
us that Jesus went up into the noun
| tain to pray; and that the Transfigura-
ton took place while he prayed. So it
| was at his baptism; as he prayed the
heavens We're opened and the Holy Spir-
| 1t descended upon him as a dove Ouke
3: Il. 2D Not long before. at the feeding
| of the 5000 he had spent the night hours
in mountain alone praying. He prayed
when he chose the twelve, at the insti-
tuition of his supper, in Gethsemane, and
on the cross. Thus even at special crises
| of his ministry I'm the days of his
| flesh he offered up prayers and supplica-
tions, with strong crying and tears"
| (Heb. 5: -
2. And was TRANSPORTED before them.
| The word rendered TRANSPORTED" implies
| not merely change of outward form, as
when Satan took the appearance of an
| angel of light, but real. essential change
"A foreshadowing prophecy of his true
| form-hs distinctive character-comes out
| In his TRANSPORTATION" "a revelation OF
| Deity breaking out in that glorified face.
which appealed to something deeper than
| sense. M. r. Vincent. And his face
| did shine as the sum-" Nothing less than
the brightest and most glorious of all OBJ
| jects within human knowledge-so bright
| that 1T destroys the eye to gaze directly
| upon it-coud express the radiant glor-
| les of Jesus face, when his heavenly ma
| ture shone through the veil of his flesh.
And his raiment was white as the light"
| 1. e.. LUMINOSITY white, "as no fuller on
earth can white them" MARK; /. e.. with
a supernatural whiteness white and
clustering luke. Literally, tightening
forth, as though from some inward ra-
| dance.
8. And, behold, there appeared unto
| them ii. e., the disciples) Moses and
| Elias" the Greek form of Elijah These
persons were really present. 1t was not
| vision, as is plain from the account
| of Luke.-Schaff Talking with him."
| The representatives of the Law. the
| gether. The subject of their CONVERSE
| ton is reported by Luke They spoke
| of his decease, his departure, Greek, Tex
odus.' which included his death. resur-
| rection, and ascension. Ascension was
| the natural way for Jesus to go to heav-
en-.
4. Then answered Peter" After they
had looked on awhile. and the heavenly
| guests were departing Peter answered
not to any question. but to the feelings
| and questionings that the scene awak-
ened in his mind. And said unto Jesus"
| Anxious to continue in such heavenly
| company. but mot knowing what he
said Quke). not realizing the full mean
ing of his proposal or its effect upon the
| mission of Jesus and upon the. disciples
| themselves. Lord. it is good for us
| to be here" Peter spoke the truth. The
experience was good, and would make
| him a better and more useful man all
the rest of his life. 1t widened his out
| look. 1t gave him a new idea of the
| glory that awaited the faithful 1t ex-
| allied his knowledge of Jesus as a Sa-
| vior. 1t increased his faith. 1t enabled
| him to bear more bravely his burdens.
IF thou wilt" Art willing: Let U.S."
| The disciples; r. w., says. I will make.
Make three tabernacles." or booths,
| from the bushes on the mountain. like
| those used at the feast of Tabernacles,
the great annual Jewish Thanksgiving
| Festival.
s. while he yet spake." was speak
| ing. "A bright cloud" Like the shekinah
| in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. and
in the Temple when it was dedicated by
Solomon. Peter e Pet. l. I'D calls it
1.-The excellent glory" "Overshadowed
| them" Thus Moses and Elijah were hid
| den from their sight. And behold voice
| out Of the cloud 1.-The same voice
| which had been heard once before at the
| baptism Matt, 8: ID and which was to
be heard again when he stood on the
| threshold of his passion (John 70: 2O.
| attesting his divinity and Sonship at the
| beginning, at the middle. and at the close
| of his ministry."-Camb. Bible This
is my beloved Son." Adding the voice
| itself. and interpreting the scene This
| truth must be impressed upon the dis
| ciples so that they should never lose
\ their faith even in the dark times that
/ were 10 lOlioW, ana Wnlle others were
| calling Jesus a criminal and blasphemer
| the disciples could always see him in his
true glory. Hear We him." For he Is
| the ambassador of Cod bringing the mes
sage of love from heaven. Hear i'm
| plies faith and obedience
6. 'They fell on their face. and were
sore afraid" For God himself was there
| The great manifestations of Gods power
close at hand fill the soul. conscious of
weakness and sin, with dread solemnity
| Z. Jesus came and touched them"
| Act and words were both expressive of
an almost brotherly tenderness. -Ellicott
| BE not afraid" Only in Jesus can we
draw night to God without dread.
| s. They saw no man." The two heav
emily visitants had passed away in the
| cloud,
| 8. LAS they came down." To where the
| other disciples We're waiting. Jesus
| charged them. saying. tell the vision"
the things seen, the spectacle. ..to no
| man." etc. Because "a they could not
| fully understand its meaning until then.
so as to tell II Alright. as to Jesus ma.
ture. his death. his resurrection, the fu-
ture life.
| EnIICArtOMA