This event relates to a very remarkable
occurrence in the history of our Lord’s life, which is recorded by three
of the evangelists, Matthew xvii; Mark ix; Luke ix. The substance of
what we learn from their accounts is, that upon a certain occasion Jesus
took Peter, James, and John, into a high mountain apart from all other
society, and that he was there transfigured before them; his face
shining as the sun, and his raiment white as the light; that moreover
there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, conversing with him; and that
while they spake together on the subject of his death, which was soon
afterward to take place at Jerusalem, a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and a voice out of the cloud proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased.” The Apostle Peter, adverting to this memorable
occurrence, says, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when
we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the
Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the
excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And
this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the
holy mount,” 2 Peter i, 16–18. This event is to be considered: 1. As a
solemn confirmation of the prophetic office of Christ. 2. As designed to
support the faith of the disciples, which was to be deeply tried by his
approaching humiliations; and to afford consolation to the human nature
of our Lord himself, by giving him a foretaste of “the joy set before
him.” 3. As an emblem of humanity glorified at the resurrection. 4. As
declaring Christ to be superior to Moses and Elias, the giver and the
restorer of the law. 5. As an evidence to the disciples of the existence
of a separate state, in which good men consciously enjoy the felicity of
heaven. 6. As a proof that the bodies of good men shall be so refined
and changed, as, like Elias, to live in a state of immortality, and in
the presence of God. 7. As exhibiting the sympathy which exists between
the church in heaven and the church on earth, and the instruction which
the former receives from the events which take place in the
latter:--Moses and Elias conversed with our Lord on his approaching
death, doubtless to receive, not to convey information. 8. As
maintaining the grand distinction, the infinite difference, between
Christ and all other prophets: he is “THE SON.” “_This is my beloved
Son, hear him._” It has been observed, with much truth, that the
condition in which Jesus Christ appeared among men, humble, weak, poor,
and despised, was a true and continual transfiguration; whereas, the
transfiguration itself, in which he showed himself in the real splendour
of his glory, was his true and natural condition.
occurrence in the history of our Lord’s life, which is recorded by three
of the evangelists, Matthew xvii; Mark ix; Luke ix. The substance of
what we learn from their accounts is, that upon a certain occasion Jesus
took Peter, James, and John, into a high mountain apart from all other
society, and that he was there transfigured before them; his face
shining as the sun, and his raiment white as the light; that moreover
there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, conversing with him; and that
while they spake together on the subject of his death, which was soon
afterward to take place at Jerusalem, a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and a voice out of the cloud proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased.” The Apostle Peter, adverting to this memorable
occurrence, says, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when
we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the
Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the
excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And
this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the
holy mount,” 2 Peter i, 16–18. This event is to be considered: 1. As a
solemn confirmation of the prophetic office of Christ. 2. As designed to
support the faith of the disciples, which was to be deeply tried by his
approaching humiliations; and to afford consolation to the human nature
of our Lord himself, by giving him a foretaste of “the joy set before
him.” 3. As an emblem of humanity glorified at the resurrection. 4. As
declaring Christ to be superior to Moses and Elias, the giver and the
restorer of the law. 5. As an evidence to the disciples of the existence
of a separate state, in which good men consciously enjoy the felicity of
heaven. 6. As a proof that the bodies of good men shall be so refined
and changed, as, like Elias, to live in a state of immortality, and in
the presence of God. 7. As exhibiting the sympathy which exists between
the church in heaven and the church on earth, and the instruction which
the former receives from the events which take place in the
latter:--Moses and Elias conversed with our Lord on his approaching
death, doubtless to receive, not to convey information. 8. As
maintaining the grand distinction, the infinite difference, between
Christ and all other prophets: he is “THE SON.” “_This is my beloved
Son, hear him._” It has been observed, with much truth, that the
condition in which Jesus Christ appeared among men, humble, weak, poor,
and despised, was a true and continual transfiguration; whereas, the
transfiguration itself, in which he showed himself in the real splendour
of his glory, was his true and natural condition.