Evening star., 1927-04-23
Sunday School Lesson

The two leaders, who had undergone
agony and suffering in their service
of God and the people, knew and sym
pathized with Christ in the plan OF
redemption.
Peters faith needed a divine at
testation to remove the fear that was
the result of the nervous reaction
from the strain of the past weeks
conferences with Christ. He was
confused and the appearance OF the
cloud that overshadowed them made
Peter realize that God was present.
The shekinah of glory had been with
Israel in the wilderness and dwelled
in the tabernacle and the temple,
leaving the latter when the divine
presence departed from Israel The
voice from the cloud gave q conclu-
sive testimony, using the Old Testa-
ment revelations concerning the
Christ, that referred to the personality
of the Son of God.
Peter heard in q compact, concise
and comprehensive combination of
the scriptures, a confirmation of the
Godhead of Christ that is interesting
and instructive today. This is tor
thou art) my son Ps.2:7), pointing to
Jesus as king, My beloved. in whom
/ am well pleased Isa 421) pointing
to Jesus as the suffering servant of
the Lord. Hear him Deut. 18J5),
pointing to Jesus as prophet, the SUI
preme and exclusive voice of God TO
man" This gave to Christ's words
final authority. This message was
given for the benefit of the beWildered
apostles, who had fallen on their faces
and were filled with fear until the
Masters touch caused them to see
that they were alone with Him and
had no reason for fear. Coming
down the next day, Jesus commanded
them to observe secrecy concerning
their experience until after His
resurrection The convictions born
that night nodded the lives of all the
witnesses. Peter, writing long after
the TRANSPORTATION, recorded his in
effaceable impression of that night.
Peters IneffaceabIe Impressions.
Long after, Peter recalled the fact
of the TRANSPORTATION. even il he
could not explain it. He knew that
he had seen Jesus talking with Moses
and Elijah concerning the coming
death of Christ and that he had heard
the testimony Of God to the Masters s
authority. Although it was difficult
for them to reconcile the prospect,
they commenced to realize that in
Gods program the messiahship called
for His Martyrdom. They were con-
vinced that they had made no mis-
take in accepting Him as the messiah,
even If they could not explain all the
facts connected with the same, or
harmonic the conception of q spirit
ual kingdom with their nationalistic
hopes for a political messiah.
There are several intimations con-
cerning the heavenly life suggested
by the TRANSPORTATION which we ought
not to pass over. Peter, recalling
the experience Of that night. called
upon his readers to take heed to the
teachings of that night because they
should be a light that shines for us
until the day star arises They sug
gest that heaven is not far from us;
in fact, is so close that If it were best
we could obtain a teieVision message
from the dear ones that have passed
beyond, more easily than Secretary
Hoover was able with a telephone the
other day to speak with and see a
friend in New York. 1t settled the
question of a future life. 1t teaches
us that identity of dear ones will be
preserved and that we can recognize
them in the future life.
The TRANSPORTATION has not been
repeated, yet in the experience of
various Christians there has come
great mountain-top experiences, that
would be worthless if we did not
realize that they were given to fit us
for the tasks of helping stricken and
suffering humanity to find the way
to the Savior and be helpful in
ministry to sinful men and women.
Christ in His loneliness, and need was
met by Moses and Elijah, who en-
couraged Him by their testimony and
experiences. Our Lord will meet us
when we approach Him in prayer and
will help us by meeting us there and
giving a transformatory experience,
If we seek to know Him and try to
do His will. Let us accept Him at
His word and wait in patience for
Him to come in power and great
glory, when the whole world shall
see the evidence of His deity. just as
| Peter, James and John saw 1t on the
mount of TRANSPORTATION