The true reformer., 1900-07-25
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 2o.
Subject: The TRANSPORTATION, Luke tx.
1886 - Golden Text: Luxe tx, 35 -
Memory VerseS, 3S-35 - Commentary
ON the Days Lesson.

ON the Days Lesson.
%. "About an eight days after" Mat
thew and Mark say six days. There were
six full days and the fractional days at
the beginning and the end making
about eight. ''These sayings" The
supposes the great confession occurred on
the Sabbath, and the TRANSPORTATION on
the night after the Sabbath one week
later. There is no intimation as to how
the intervening week was spent. Peter
and John and James" These same apos-
ties witnessed His agony in the garden
He took these three Q) because He need
ed witnesses to prove the fact when the
time came TO reveal His glory to the
world, and (2) for the purpose of encour-
aging and establishing them In the truths
of His kingdom. Into a mountain" The
pl4ce of the transportation scene is un-
known, but it was probably Mount Her
mon, not far from Caesarea Phihppi. This
is the opinion of nearly all modern au-
thorities. ITO prav." 1t was the habit
of Jesus to go alone in the night to pray.
Before He chose the Twelve, and after
feeding the five thousand, we see Him
praying in the night. This time it was
prayer meeting"
90 Gas He prayed" He was doubtless
praying for strength to carry on His work
and for the enlightenment of His dlsci-
pies; the TRANSPORTATION was the answer.
His countenance was altered" Matthew
says, "His face did shine as the sun" 1t
would appear that the light shone not
upon Him from without, but that it shone
out of Him from within; it was one blaze
of dazzling, celestial glory; it was Himself
| glorifed. "Raiment became white and
| dazzling" (R. W Mark says: Exceeding
white as snow" His face shone with di
vine majesty, and all His body was so ir
radiated by it that His clothes could not
| nd xvbi nd
| glistening as the very light with which
He covered Himself as with garment.
80. Moses and Elijah" (R. V.)-Moses
was representative of the law; he was
the founder of the Jewish dispensation,
which for centuries had been preparing
Christ, and had foretold His coming
(Deut. 1S:l5lS); and through Him had
been instituted the sacrifices which
Christ fulfilled and which explained His
coming death which so troubled the disci-
pies. Elijah was the representative OF the
prophets. They had foretold the coming
and the suffering of Christ, and Elijah
of the Lord by his character and spirit
reappearing in John the Baptist, the fore
runner of Jesus.
81. "Who appeared in glory" In like
glory with Jesus; with glori6ed bodies.
"And spake, of His decease. Or depar-
| u
no doubt, His death. resurrection and as
cension (which He was about to ac-
complish (R. W This conversation
would enable the disciples to see the i'm
Roptance and necessity of that which was
to them the greatest mystery-the suMer-
ing and death of their blessed Master.
80. "Were heavy with sleep" HMS
in the night, and the time when they usu-
ally slept. Our English version implies
that they fell asleep and We're awakened
to see His glory, while the original implies
that, though heavy with sleep, they kept
fully awake. ''Were fully awake" (R. W
Even though they may have been asleep
at first when lie was ''transfgured be
fore them" they were fully awake. Saw
His glory, and the two men," The bril-
liancy of their countenances and the daz
zling brightness of the garments. 1t was
reality. 1t was not dream, they were
fully awake.
So. Gas they departed" Peter must
have seen that they were about ready tc
leave 'EPeter said" Peter is always
ready to speak. cit is good for us to be
here" Peter spoke the truth. The apos
ties would be stronger, and more usetu
because of the divine manifestations. Il
is always good for us when the Lord es
pecially manifests Himself to us; when We
see His glory. Let us make three taber
nacles." Or booths, from the bushes O
the mountains; such as were made at the
feast of the tabernacles. He greatly de
sired to have the heavenly visitants re
said" Peters plans were frequently il
opposition to those of the Lord. He wa!
so amazed and bewildered by the glory o
the heavenly manifestations that he know
-, -; not what he said. How many times do WI
speak unwisely because we do not stol
to consider our words.
"a. "While he thus spake." Here was
4bo ,.ocpopoa fo patar'c cIoOp1tiOT1 a WISE
answer to foolish prayer; denying the
petition in order to grant something bet
ter. There came a cloud, and over
shadowed them" Matthew says {
j bright" cloud. A cloud had frequentl!
d been the symbol of the divine presence
I "They feared" This glorious manifesto
ton of Gods presence caused them tt
, tremble. 1t is very likely that the trans
, fpuration took place in the night, IL
y which case the light of Christ,!s counte
nance, the dazzling brightness OF LIS gar
!; ments, and the glory of the cloud, wouI'
e sence of the solar light. Entered into
:. It was first above them and then scenes
d to descend over them and envelop them.
35 "a voice" The voice OF God tn
z Father. It revealed nothing new, bu
I confirms the old, for it was the same voic
which had been heard at his baptism
: Ties present that they did not need to dt
) tain Moses and Elijah in order to add t
their happiness. '"rhis is ldv believe
s Son" Matthew adds, "In whom l al
n well pleased" They had Jesus with then
e and He was more than all the hosts c
heaven would be without Him. "Hea
Him" He is superior even to Moses, tn
great lawgiyer. Moses himself had mad
Such a statement. Deut. 1915 He is ST
n perior to Elijah and the prophets, and
e the One to whom they pointed. Hea
d Him; attend to His instructions and ODE
e His words.
:. 36. "When the voice was past" Th
e disciples fell on their faces, and were sor
e afraid Matthew They feared as the
t entered into the cloud, but now when the
V heard the voice of God, probably as lou
e as thunder (see John 1920, and full c
divine majesty such as mortal ears wer
/ unaccustomed to hear, they fell fiat t
/ the ground on their faces, being sor