Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-19
One Lesson of the Battlefront
The International Sunday School Lesson For April 81 Is
Jesus Transfigured.- Mark 1920
By William T. Ellis.

"One crowded hour of glorious life
is the poets phrase, as he sings the
worth -whileness of a supreme eN-
perience. To have been at Balaclava,
or on either side of the fence at the
bloody angle at Gettysburg, or at
the Marne or Vimy Ridge, is to have
lived greatly, though all the remain
ing days be common. A great eX-
perience of patriotism, of human
love, of spiritual ecstasy. is worth a
lifetime of ordinary incidents; or,
pather, it glorifies all common days.
One of the motives driving young
men to enlist in the war is the con-
viction that they cannot afford to
stand apart from the experience that
is transforming the whole of human
life. From the standpoint of par
ticipants, they want to see Gods
great doings with mankind.
Such a vision lifts life. God plans
it so. That is why He gave the
prophet the vision of the seven thou
sand who had not bowed their knees
to Baal. Therefore the Book of the
Revelation, and the TRANSPORTATION
are in the inspired Scriptures. In
the dull and dark days, and in the
hours of heavy-heartedness, the mo-
ments of vision and inspiration rally
of great Christian convention, of
an immense Bible class parade, of
the glorious news of the church S
foreign victories, of the shining
Christian service for the soldiers
should be cherished as memories that
sustain service. Herein is a sound
reason why we should all be diligent
readers of news of the kingdom.
Behind the Soup Kitchen
This Sunday school lesson has no
soup kitchen or medical dispensary
flavor. There is no social service as
pect to it. 1t is not on the plane OF
humdrum ministry to mems material
needs. Yet it deals with that which
is behind all forms of ministry. For
here we confront religions richest
reality The TRANSPORTATION is a
spiritual experience. 1t gives a
glimpse of Christ as Gods sent Son.
Its study should do for us what it did
for the three disciples-make clear
the character of Jesus. Let us en-
tertain no misapprehension here; re-
ligion is more than a ministry to the
world-it is first of all a spiritual
apprehension. The vision and ac-
ceptance of the Son of God are the
heart of hearts of the Christian faith.
Before it is a social service, Chris
tianity must be a soul experience.
The little group of friends Oh
Christ, up near the foot of Mount
Hermon, had been meditating upon
His high. hard teaching of the Cross,
which we stated last Sunday. The
record is silent concerning the week
that followed. Only in our minds can
we conceive of the deep questionings
and, broodings over this new presen-
tation of what discipleship meant.
The depth of fellowship experienced
at this retreat" is beyond our ken.
Upon these followers had dawned the
truth that their association with their
Leader was not to be permanent.
Sadness overshadowed the company.
Then followed the contrast, the trans
figuration which enabled them to
look higher than the Cross to what
lay behind.
Sharing Secret
Partly because they were fittcst
and closest to His hcart-for there
are degrees in the friendship of
Jesus-but more because they were
to be leaders in service, and there
fore most needed this equipment, the
three familiars of the Master, Peter,
James and John, were taken up to
the heights of Mount Hermon with
Him. High was their privilege, but
deep was their obligation. 1t has
been said that Christ comforts us,
not to make us comfortable, but TO
make us comforters. This transfigu-
ration experience was an equipment
for ministry. The three were taken
into the confidence of Jesus; they
shared His secret, which they should
keep within their breasts until the
time was ripe for it's full revelation.
The subsequent experiences of Col
gotha and the Garden were to be il
Illuminated by the shining light seen
on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION.
Like burrs or barbs, Bible phrases
have a way of sticking. Thus we
read that it was "as He was pray
ing that all these things came to
pass. The TRANSPORTATION experience