Irradiated Mountain of Transfiguration

PW EAVING the city of Caesarea Philippi (the ruins of which appeared

I J to us sadly tremendous as we encamped there last December),

I m Jesus may have made a circuit of a considerable region thereabout, or

•’^^^~* He may have gone into retirement with ‘His disciples for the double

purpose of privately instructing them in their duties, which they must soon take

upon themselves without His helpful presence, and also to escape the persecutions

of His enemies who continued to menace His life. But where He went or what

He did we do not know; there is no record; there is no intimation. For at least

six days Jesus was practically withdrawn from the world, so far as the gospe!

narratives are concerned, for it is written that “Six days after these sayings [His

rebuke of Peter and declarations to His disciples and the people] Jesus taketh

Peter, James and John, his brother, and leadeth them up into a high mountain

apart by themselves, to pray.”

Why did Jesus show this apparent favoritism? What prompted Him to permit only these three to behold the glory which was now about to be visited upon Him, and withhold such ineffable testimony from the other nine? It is enough for us to know that He had good reasons for so doing, and they are not beyond the pale of plausible supposition. In a company of twelve men there are always to be found great differences of temperament, and it is this variety of dispositions that creates friendships and arouses dislikes. All of the apostles were no doubt ardently attached to Jesus, but there were some who must have become closer to Him than others; some who blended their lives with His own more perfectly; some who understood Him better; some who loved Him with a greater fullness of devotion, and some who better comprehended His mission, than others. They had all sat at His feet and listened, with admiration, wonderment and feelings of endearment, to His wisdom and counsel, but some must have come closer to His heart than others, and felt the throb of His bosom and interpreted the voice of His soul. Why, even in the family circle, while parents may love all their children alike, yet there are one or two of a half-dozen that seem to ask more ardently for the parental blessings, whose attachmeiits appear to be stronger, whose conduct gives more cordial demonstration of affectionate endeannent. In short, some natures blend, while others will not assimilate; some are drawn

(343)

irresistibly together, while between others there is the barrier of diffidence, or

uncongeniality, or repulsion, forbidding confidence, companionship. Thus while

Jesus certainly felt great warmth of friendship for all His disciples, and this love

was returned by them, yet some enjoyed a degree of affection much greater than

others. Indeed, Jesus Himself plainly indicated His special love for John and

James, those sons of thunder, and for Peter, on more than one occasion. It

is quite probable also, that James, John and Peter were better prepared to receive

the testimony which was about to be given, for their spiritual insight, while not

yet entirely clear, was greater, we must believe, than that of the other disciples

who had not yet come to a realization of the spiritual kingdom which Christ was

to set up.

Oh, Wondrous Vision I

Having fully revealed Himself to His apostles as the Messiah promised, the time had now come for offering another testimony, in addition to the miracles performed, to the complete substantiation of His claims, in which God himself was to be the witness. Therefore, while Jesus was praying on the mountain peak, somewhere near Csesarea Philippi, the proof of His divinity suddenly blazed up in a cloud of glory, to dazzle, bewilder and to awe the three disciples. “And as He prayed, He was transfigured before them; the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was as white as the light, glistening and shining exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spoke of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep; and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him.”

Oh, what wondrous, sublime, ecstatic spectacle! Behold this glorious vision! Jesus had heretofore appeared to His disciples and the multitudes as only a servant, a man so merciful that His heart was always bursting with sympathy; so kind that His eyes spoke benedictions upon all who came to claim His help; so generous, that He gave up everything and worked unceasingly that the suffering might be able to share all His bounty. They had seen Him pale and faint from protracted exertion in His mission of immeasurable mercy; His feet blistered from hard travel over dusty highways, and rugged steeps and rocky valleys; they had seen Him reviled, traduced, persecuted by mendacious Pharisees, who sowed His paths with slander, and set crowds against Him by the vilest of all possible misrepresentations. But now behold the everlasting testimony of that great Trinity of which God Himself stood at the head. See how His benign face shines like a blazing sun, and how His worn raiment scintillates with ineffable light radiating from His precious body. Glory on His head, and at His feet, and holding Him lu the sublimation of Messianic splendor, and the super-exaltation of transfiguration.

The Glory of Heaven Revealed.

How long had Jesus been praying? — perhaps through the long watches,

until His disciples’ eyes grew
heavy with the
weight of sleep,
and until darkness had flung
down the curtain
of midnight, and
the stars seemed
to wink with
drowsiness. But
such flood of
heavenly light
flashed over the
mountain top
that midnight became as midday,
and awoke to living ecstasy the
dreaming disciples, whose eyes
opened upon a
scene more dazzling with awe-inspiring magnificence than was
ever before or
since witnessed.
Behold Jesus, the
glorified one, and
the great lawgiver bound in

spiritual companionship with the great prophet, the three conversing as in loving brotherhood, but in which compassion and sorrow told how all heaven was moved by the sacrifice that was soon to be made.

SCRIBES OF ANCIKXX PALKSTINE.

Gradually the vision faded, and when Peter recovered from his overwhelming awe at the beatification of his Lord, in the enthusiasm of intense felicity he said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and if Thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” He would on this sacred spot have elaborate and adorned tents pitched, one in honor of Divinity a second in honor of the Law, and the third in honor of Prophecy. But, “while he thus spke, there came a bright cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud, and <^here came a voice out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him.’” It was the glorious cloud of God’s presence, the Shekinah that symbolized Jehovah’ s appearance in the Tabernacle, the great light that illuminates all the shores of eternity. Such blinding effulgence that the three disciples fell upon their faces with fear, but in another moment the visitation was ended; the flaming cloud uprose; day broke over the mountain, and as the voice ceased Jesus touched the three, saying, “Arise, be not afraid.”

Jesus Points to John as Forerunner.

The gentle touch of Jesus’ hand dispelled all fear from His disciples, and with returning trustfulness how they must have felt a worshipful impulse; and what flattery and exaltation they must have experienced at the remembrance of the glorious vision, and how anxious they must have been to tell their experience to their less favored companions; and to proclaim to the people the heavenly manifestation made in their presence in demonstration of the divine Sonship of Jesus. But as they came down from the peak of transfiguration, Christ especially charged them to reveal nothing of what they had just seen until He was risen from the dead.

The vision of deification probably served to render the disciples more diffident in their intercourse with Jesus, for while the three talked freely among themselves as to what could be His meaning of rising from the dead, they had so far lost their familiarity with the Lord that it would appear they were too reserved to ask Him for a full exposition of His allusion. But they held discourse with Him on other subjects equally important to them, and on one subject particularly, which had before been frequently alluded to, namely, that of the forerunner whom the scribes declared should first come to prepare the way of the Messiah. “And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? ’ “It was the seeking after light on pne of the oldest traditions of the Jews since they had become a nation; a tradition which had such strong hold upon the beliefs of the people that even ’ the disciples could not wholly divest themselves of their faith in its truth, for otherwise they would not have propounded such a question. Respecting the sacredness and tenacity of such a belief, Jesus gave them a full answer, which must have clearly satisfied their longings for a reconcilement of their traditions with the appearance of Christ. Said He,” Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed; likewise also, as it is written of Him, shall the Son of Man suffer many things, and be set at naught of them. Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist.” In other words, He explained to them: “The tradition of a forerunner of* the Christ promised is true; the Jews have believed that Elias would be that forerunner, hence I say that Elias has come. But John the Baptist was the true forerunner, and he it was who prepared the way, but the Jews rejected him and finally put him to death. The Saviour has indeed come, but the people having rejected John will now reject Me, and, with even greater hostility than they showed for John, have set Me at naught and will very soon crucify Me.”

Epilepsy Cured.

As Jesus and His three favored companions came down from the mountain, which was on the day following His transfiguration. He saw a multitude surrounding the nine disciples, creating a tumult by derisive shouts and confusing questions. As Jesus drew near, the crowd recognized Him and leaving the abashed disciples they rushed out to greet Him. Among the gathering were many scribes, for they did not cease following Him about, striving to counteract His influence and to array the people against Him. When the crowd reached Jesus, He asked the scribes what was the cause of the disturbance, but their answer was given by a poor suppliant father, who, kneeling at Christ’s feet, entreated Him, saying, “Lord, have ‘mercy, I beseech Thee, and look upon my son; for he is mine only child, which hath a dumb spirit; for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed, for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him, and bruising him hardly departeth from him; and he suddenly crieth out and foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I brought him to Thy disciples and besought them that they should cure him, and they could not.”

What a sad picture was here presented. The only child of a doting father; from a nursling in which parental hope and expectation of useful, prosperous and honorable station budded had now flowered in bitter disappointment, and by inexpressible misfortune had become a living wound, an object of perpetual grief, a concern of inextinguishable anxiety, and a sorrow that cannot be measured even by death of the first-born. And in this depth of affliction the son and father lived on through years of torment until the hope that had withered, and the ambition that was blasted, and the day-dreams that had faded, budded forth again in sudden and glorious surprise at the appearance of Jesus. How must the father have felt when he first heard, in profound astonishment, of the wondrous cures that Christ and His disciples were performing? Did his aching heart thrill with expectation, and did he now look forward to the restoration of his terribly afiflicted boy through Divine instrumentality? Yes; buried hope must have been quickly resurrected, for hearing that the disciples were in his vicinity, he carried his demoniac child to them, seeking their aid for that relief which others had time and again tried to afford, but in vain. Now he brings the demented and wasted and epileptic boy and tells them how great are his sufferings, and how terrible are his ravings, and how pity-compelling are the exhibitions of Satanic influence which mark nearly every hour of his life. The nine apostles are moved by the story of the father and the sad appearance of the boy, about whom they now assemble to work the miracle of his cure; but speak as they may, pray as they may, manipulate him as they may, the evil spirit will not leave him. It requires stronger faith than theirs to overpower Satan; it needs a holier physician than can be found among the nine to grapple successfully with such a tenacious disease and possession. One after another they try to relieve the boy, but in vain; then they renew their efforts altogether, but it is of no use, the evil spirit will not come out of the victim.

The people laugh at this discomfiture of the disciples and deride their pretensions, while the father buries his face in his hands, cast down with hopelessness again into even greater depression than before. But the shouts of scoffers are suddenly hushed, as Jesus is seen approaching, and the voice of derision is changed to a cry of exultation and welcome. As one body, the people run out to meet Jesus with acclaims, followed by the father, in whom hope springs forth anew. And now we behold him in an attitude of worshipful humiliation at the feet of our Lord, begging of Him that aid which His nine apostles had been unable to afford. Learning of the failure, Jesus offered a rebuke to the disciples of small faith, saying: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?” And to the father, “Bring thy son hither to me.”

The suffering child was forthwith brought, but as he came into the immediate presence of the Divine Physician, he was attacked with a violent paroxysm which threw him down, and there he lay in terrible convulsions, groaning, frothing and in contortions that must have excited all that crowd with great sympathy. Jesus asked the father how long the boy had suffered from this frightful affliction, and received for reply, “Since childhood, and ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the water to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Christ was now to give not only an evidence of His divine power, but to impart a lesson by way of illustrating the faith necessary to salvation as well as that which is required of those seeking divine aid. Therefore said He,” If thou canst believe; all things are possible to him that believeth.” At this the father took hope, but yet he had been so often disappointed, and the cure of such a sorely and long afflicted one seemed to him so nearly impossible, that in despairing voice and with eyes filled with tears, he exclaimed,” L,ord, I believe help Thou mine unbelief.”

This half-hearted faith was yet a manifestation of a desire for greater strength to believe, which Jesus rewarded by casting out the evil spirit that possessed the boy, but before finally departing the sufferer fell into another fit which so convulsed him that at its expiration he lay as one dead, with rigid features, pallid countenance, glazed eyes, so that all who looked on him believed that the boy was indeed dead, and so declared. But the miracle was concluded by Jesus taking the subject by the hand and lifting him up fully restored and delivering him sound in mind, pure in body, healthy in every organ, to his overjoyed father, “and they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.”

The Astonished Disciples.

The confusion which the nine disciples felt before the crowd over their failure to restore the boy was not nearly so great as that which they now experienced before their Lord, and they sought the earliest opportunity for privately asking Jesus why they had been unable to cast out the evil spirit. He answered them by rebuking them for their unbelief, and by declaring that had they proper faith no difficulty would be so great that they could not overcome it, but without this firmly convincing belief and this strong sustaining faith they could do nothing above other men.

After remaining for some time in the district about Caesarea Philippi, Jesus took His departure from that territory and went over again into Galilee, followed by His twelve apostles, proceeding probably by way of Dan and across the Lebanon mountains, thus avoiding the more frequented highways. His active ministry was now approaching its close, and His time was henceforth largely devoted to instructing His apostles in their duties, and in preparing them for the tragic end of His life, now near at hand.

As they journeyed, or possibly while in some retreat among the mountains, where retirement from the people was not likely to be interrupted, Jesus foretold to His disciples again how He would soon be betrayed, and executed, and that three days after His death He would be resurrected. The disciples however could not understand His prophecy, seemingly choosing to regard His words as conveying some secret meaning, like that veiled in His parables, but they were afraid to ask Him for an explanation. They did not cease to believe that He would sooner or later exercise His divine power for tl;e establishing of the material kingdom which all Jew>’ had so long looked forward to, and though He gave

them many assurances that His was a spiritual and not a material kingdom, yet

they preferred to consider His words as dark sayings rather than abandon their old

traditions and beliefs.

Christ Pays Tax.

After wandering for a while in Northern Galilee, Jesus proceeded to Capernaum, still in company of His disciples, where He avoided strangers because there was such hostility against Him that His public appearance there now would certainly have been quickly followed by His arrest. He no doubt lodged with Peter, or with the sons of Zebedee — John and James, who were probably better able to care for Him. But His disciples did not withdraw themselves, for shortly after their arrival at Capernaum one of the tribute collectors came to Peter and asked him if His Master had yet paid His tax. This tribute was a levy first made by Moses upon the people to provide funds for the building of a Tabernacle, which was collected yearly, at the time of the “numbering of the people.” The collection continued up to the time of the captivity of the Jews, and was re-imposed after the return from bondage, but the payment was not enforced by provisions of legal penalties, being rather in the nature of a free offering towards the maintenance of the Temple service. The amount, too, was small, being about si. 75 of our money for every Israelite above twenty years of age, in whatever country he might be living, the priesthood alone being exempted. But small as was this tax offering, in the aggregate it amounted to a vast sum which, constantly accumulating, filled the Temple treasury and was the object that led to repeated violations of the sanctuary and finally to the destruction of both the Temple and Jerusalem by Titus, and the sequestration of the treasure by his father, the Emperor Vespasian, who transferred it to the Capitoline Jupiter.

It is probable that when Jesus arrived in Capernaum, the period for making the annual collection was passed and that He was in arrears, for otherwise we cannot understand the spirit of the inquiry which the collector addressed to Peter. Anxious to perform a service and to discharge an obligation for his Master, Peter acknowledged the unpaid tax and went immediately away to his house to get the money. But on the very threshold he was arrested by Jesus who, learning of the cause of his return, began questioning His devoted disciple on the propriety of paying the annual levy, a question which had long been in dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus, in this instance, agreed with the latter in condemning the collection as an injustice, but rather than offend against a longobserved custom having a Mosaic precedent, He told Peter to go to the sea and cast in a hook and to open the mouth of the first fish taketi, in which he would find the money with which to pay the tribute of both Peter and Himself. “That take,” said Jesus, “and give unto them for Me and thee.”

The object of this miracle is more important than the singularity of its performance, in which many profess their inabilitj- to perceive any special reason or lesson. When the Lord met Peter at the door He asked, “Of whom do the kings of the earth receive custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers?” and Peter answered, “Of strangers.” “Then,” said Jesus, “are the children free.” Jesus took this means of impressing Peter, who had confessed Him as the Son of God, with His Divinity, which placed Him on equality with the King of kings, and who thus being the true Temple was exempt from levies for its maintenance. And He implies the exemption of Peter also, and inferentially of all His disciples, though He did not thus reveal Himself to

the others.

Ambitious Disciples.

This favoritism, which Jesus had shown to three of His apostles on several occasions, and again exhibited in the payment of the tribute money for Peter, caused jealousies, and discussions, and perhaps hard feelings, until at length their disputes prompted some of the disciples to ask, after much persuasion by Jesus, who saw that they were in contention among themselves,” Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The question was considered such a grave one, involving as it did the conception of the disciples respecting heaven, in opposition to the establishment of the spiritual kingdom which Jesus had several times declared, that He called all the apostles about Him and answered the inquiry- by imparting instructions as to what constituted the kingdom of heaven, and who might enter therein. “If,” said He, “any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” The disciples evidently had in mind the setting up of an earthly kingdom, the restoration of Judah, and a refounding of the Jewish government upon a new theocracy of which Christ was to be the head. Having been witnesses of His omnipotent power, they regarded His declarations as containing a hidden meaning which they construed as implying the early establishment of His kingdom on earth, and they entertained an ambition, if not a firm belief, that they would be appointed to high offices or hold some place of distinguished preferment in the new government. This aspiration, as well as false conception, was now destroyed by more explicit statements and clearer revelation than He had ever made before. Jesus called a little child and taking it up in His loving arms, He said to His apostles, “Except ye be converted [from your ambitions] and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” As Dr. Eddy says, our Lord’s language may be paraphrased thus; “You are disputing among yourselves who shall be greatest in My kingdom, when it is doubtful whether you are qualified to enter it. Behold this child, so obedient to My call,, so confiding, so unambitious, so loving; this is a model disciple. If you would be great in My kingdom, renounce first all your pride and jealousy and lust for pre-eminence, and become as this little child. Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The lesson thus imparted by Jesus made such an impression upon the disciples that they asked other questions, in a spirit of desire for further instructions respecting their duties and faithful performance of all obligations, and the righteous observance of such requirements as would qualify them for admission into the spiritual kingdom. Jesus gratified their longings by an exposition of the doctrinal basis upon which His church was to be founded, on the evil of offenders against justice and forbearance, and the necessity of every man keeping well the faith and in seeking to bring others into conununion with God and fellowshipwith the Son, illustrating His lesson of compassion and forbearance by powerful

allegory.

Forgive Four Hundred and Ninety Times.

“Then came Peter to Him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Yes, answered Jesus, seven times, and seventy times seven; indeed, there should be no limit, no depth, noheight, no boundary to forgiveness. And to impress more firmly upon His disciples the grace, beauty and praiseworthiness of pardon, and the deformity, vice and iniquity of pitiless avengement or rigorous exaction, He gave them a parable of an unjust creditor. “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king which would take an account of his servants.” The king (or lord) had many debtors, for being rich he was a large lender to the poorer people; but however rich a man may be he must look after his loans, his mortgages, hisaccounts, or else the largest fortune will soon be distributed beyond reclamation. So there are days for paying as well as for lending, and this lord now sent out notices to his debtors for them to come and settle their indebtedness to him. In the olden times and even in this country less than one hundred years ago, there were such laws in force as enabled creditors to oppress their debtors to the limit of human endurance, and even to take charge of and mutilate the body after. death. At the demand of a Shylock, Antonio might be thrust into jail, or, with his wife and children, be sold into slavery to satisfy the debt. And it was so in’ Palestine in the time of Christ.

And the lord, having sent out notices to those, who owed him sums of
money, and found that one of his chief delinquents, whose indebtedness was ten
thousand talents, had allowed the obligation to remain -unpaid after maturity,
ordered the man to be brought before him. The poor fellow no doubt presented
a pitiable sight, for he knew how harsh and merciles.sly exacting were nearly all
the rich men, so rigorous in their dealings that the lenders were called lords, and
the borrowers were known as servants. And trembling from head to foot the
delinquent made his appearance. “Why have you not paid your debt to me?”
ano-rily demands the lord. “Because,” answers the fear-stricken defaulter, “I
have no money.”
” Then away with
him to prison, and
put up his wife
and children at
auction, and let
them be sold for
slaves to the highest bidder, and
bring to me the
price of their bondage.” “Hold,
hold one moment,” cries the
poor unfortunate,
falling upon his
knees before the
hard lender,
* ’ spare my wife,
the loved one of
my bosom, and
my dear little
children, who
are guiltless of
wrong; send
them not into servitude for my improvidence; save
them from the
misery, the degradation and the
blight that slavery would impose
I will pay you all,”

The lord could not withstand this plea; that voice of supplication went to his heart with .such force that it opened the well of compassion, and so deeply moved was he by the wail of distress, that he ordered the del)tor to be released 23

THH UNJUST Ul!,llTOK.

I pray you, sir, have mercy and patience and and even discharged him from further liability. This was an act of mercy which set the rich lord upon a pre-eminence of nobility and goodly example, and is an illustration of the pardoning grace of God, who freely forgives every debtor who comes with an earnest supplication for pardon for offences.

But how did the forgiven debtor profit by the mercy that had been shown him? Immediately after receiving a discharge at the hands of his compassionate lord, he went out and sought for a man who owed him the pittance of one hundred pence. Finding the small borrower over the way, this heartless man, transformed from humble debtor to enraged creditor, rushed across to him, took the delinquent by the throat, and demanded that the debt be paid at once. The surprised, alarmed and trembling servant fell at the feet of his inexorable master and pleaded with him for mercy and a little patience, promising to pay the debt if but a short time was allowed him in which to raise the money. But, to his shame, with an exhibition of avarice and cruelty that was disgraceful to humanity, the creditor ordered the unfortunate man cast into prison, there to remain until the debt was discharged. But such savage rapacity was not to go unwhipped of justice. The lord who forgave the debtor, learning how he had abused a more unfortunate defaulter, sent for him, and when he came cowering and abject, like a base ingrate about to receive his well-merited punishment, the lord said to him: “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me: shouldst thou not also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?” And in wrath at this unrequitement of the mercy that had been shown him, the generous lord handed him over to the officers to be kept in prison, or set at labor as a slave, until the large debt of ten thousand talents was discharged. The application of the parable is found in the words with which Jesus concluded it: “So likewise shall My Heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother’s trespasses.”