The Coolidge examiner., 1936-02-28


INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-With Jesus in Prayer and
Service.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Worship and Work.
The subject of this lesson as
chosen by the lesson committee
needs to be most rigidly held to it's
place as set forth in the Scriptures.
The lesson should not be taught
in a general way as pertaining to
vision and service. The particular
vision herein set forth is the un-
yelling of the majestic person of
the Son of God, with an epitome
of the messianic kingdom. The
manifestation of Christ in glory
was D give to the discouraged dis
ciples a foregleam of the kingdom
so fondly cherished by them. The
hopes of the disciples were crushed
when Christ announced his death
on the cross. They were unable to
see how victory could issue from
his death.
Jesus took with him Peter,
James and John, and went into the
mount to pray. His chief aim in
retirement was to get the disciples
into a state of receptivity so that
he might show them the reality
and method of his kingdom. Be
fore going into the mount, he de-
clared that there were some stand
ing in his presence who would not
taste death until they should see
the Son of man coming in his king
dom Uuke 9:27; CT. Matt. 16 :2S).
That their dropping spirits might
be revived and their confidence re-
stored, he was transfigured before
them. Two men from the upper
world were sent to converse with
him about his approaching death
in Jerusalem (v. 31) - the very
thing about which the disciples re-
fused to talk. Then, too, Gods
own voice was heard in words of
approval of Christ's course direct
ing them to hear the Master. Sure
ly now they cannot doubt his abil.
ity to carry to execution his king
dom plans. The purpose, then, Of
the TRANSPORTATION was to give the
disciples a foregleam of the com
ing kingdom, to enable them to see
the kingdom in its embryonic form
That this is true is not only shown
by the context and circumstances
but by the inspired Interpretation
of one who was with him and knew
all that transpired (see II Pet. ! 10
19, r. W Let us. therefore. note
the outstanding features of the
kingdom as displayed In the trans
figuration.
I. Jesus Christ the Glorified King
on Mount Zion (vv. 2S, 29).
Jesus glorified on the mount to
which they went to pray was in
tended to symbolic the messianic
kingdom as it will be when Christ
returns literally to the Mount of
Olives in Jerusalem.
u. The GIorifed Saints With Christ.
(vv. 80, 81.
l. Moses, who was once denied
entrance into Palestine. appears
now in glory, representing the Re-
deemed of the Lord who after
death shall pass into the kingdom
2. Elijah, now glorified, repre-
sents the redeemed who shall pass
into the kingdom through transla-
ton. Many shall he living upon
the earth when the Lord comes
and shall, without dying, be
changed, and thus pass into the
kingdom,
8. The topic of conversation (v.
81. 1t was the death of Christ,
the very thing which the disciples
refused to believe.
III. Israel in the Flesh in Con-
nection With the Kingdom, Repre-
sented by Peter, James, and John
". 2S).
Israel shall be called from their
hiding place among the nations of
the earth and shall be gathered to
Jesus Christ, the King, as the cen
trail people in the kingdom (Ezek.
81 :21-27). Christ Is the King of
the Jews.
l. Peters proposal to build three
tabernacles ". 33). The Feast of
the Tabernacles looked forward to
the glorious reign of Christ. Peter
caught a glimpse of the significance
of the TRANSPORTATION. His prOpo-
sition showed that he apprehended
the meaning of the Feast of the
Tabernacles and, therefore. his
proposition substantially was, THE
millennium is come; let us cele-
brate."
,. The divine voice ". 35). At
this time God himself uttered
words which assured them that the
transfgured one was his Son, Jesus
Christ.
". The Multitude at the Foot
of the Mount wv. 81 :43).
The people here were grievously
oppressed by the devil, as illustrat-
ed by the demon possessed lad.
There are times when the devil is
especially active in the affairs of
men. The multitude at the foot
Of the mount is representative Of