075. MAT 17:1-8. TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST
Mat_17:1-8. Transfiguration of Christ
PART III
"And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John," &c.’97Mat_17:1-8
In the preceding sketches we have noticed, The Witnesses’97The Place’97The Season’97The Devotional Exercise’97and, The Transfiguration itself. Also, The Attendants’97and, The Conversation connected with it. We now proceed to consider,
VIII. The expressed Rapture of Peter, and the Proposal he made.
"Peter said, Master, it is good to be here; let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he spake." Notice,
1. His present rapture.
"Master, it is good to be here."
Observe his reverential address, "Master;" and then, his exclamation, "It is good to be here." We do not wonder, when we reflect upon,
(1) The company they were with. Moses, Elijah, and Christ.
(2) Their appearance on this occasion. "In glory." Clothed in raiment bright and shining.
(3) The conversation which took place, respecting the world’s redemption by Christ Jesus.
(4) Their situation. On a high mountain, secluded from the noise and bustle of the world.
(5) Their exemption from all trouble and attacks of foes. The sneer of the Pharisees, and the revilings of the world. It is good to be on the mountain’97to pray’97to be with Christ’97to have fellowship with saints’97behold Christ’s glory. Yes
"Our willing souls would stay
In such a frame as this;
And sit and sing themselves away
To everlasting bliss."
Observe,
2. His earnest proposal.
"Let us build three tabernacles," &c. Here we have his expressed desire to perpetuate his happiness. Now, there are several things in the proposal to be commended.
(1) He only wanted to raise temporary dwellings; not stable or permanent ones.
(2) He wanted them to be on the mount of meditation; not in the world, who were living without God.
(3) He wanted them for Christ and his people. Communion with the head and the members; both desirable, and both necessary. And,
(4) He submitted it to Christ’s supreme wisdom and authority. "If thou wilt." If it seems good in thy sight. If thou wilt give thy sanction to it. Observe,
3. The impropriety of Peter’s proposal.
Luke adds: "Not knowing what he said." Observe,
(1) Peter’s proposal was the result of feeling, and not of judgment. Religion must be formed of both. Without the one, it will be fanaticism; without the other, formality.
(2) Peter wanted heaven here, forgetting that we must travel to it’97fight for it. Strangers and pilgrims.
(3) Peter overlooked his brethren, whom they had left when Christ ascended the mountain: therefore it was selfish.
(4) Peter lost sight of the great company of the redeemed. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, &c.
(5) Peter surely forgot, that a kingdom was prepared above; and therefore, dwellings here were unnecessary.
(6) Peter need not require three tabernacles. Jesus will be present, with Moses and Elias; he as the head, and they, and all saints, as his illustrious attendants. Glorified saints do not want to be excluded from each other, much less from Christ
(7) Besides, was it reasonable for Moses, the favored servant of the Lord, whose soul had been extracted by the lips of the Almighty, and who had been before the throne for fifteen hundred years, to descend to dwell on a barren mountain? For Elijah, who had been taken to glory in a chariot of fire, to dwell in an earthly tabernacle again?
(8) Finally, he forgot the subject of conversation. That Christ should accomplish his decease at Jerusalem: that he had to die for man; and by his agonies and death to redeem the world. The eternal interests of men would have been blighted forever, had Peter’s proposal been accepted. But "he knew not what he said." Consider,
IX. The Symbol of the Divine Presence which was now displayed.
While Peter yet spake, "behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them."
God frequently manifested himself through the medium of a cloud. In his essence, he is invisible. "Dwells in light which no man can approach unto." When his presence was with Israel, it was a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. When he gave the law on Sinai, he descended in a cloud; Exo_19:16. When he descended into the tabernacle and temple, a cloud was the symbol of his presence; Exo_40:34; 1Ki_8:10. But on this occasion, the cloud was a bright one; denoting the graciousness and clearness of the Christian dispensation over that of the legal and ceremonial one.
Observe,
X. The Public Attestation of Christ’s Character and Mission.
"And, behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." This was the voice of Jehovah: and it attested,
1. The dignity of his person.
"God’s Son." Not a son in like manner with angels, or saints; but his "only-begotten" Son; possessing the express image of the Divine Person: coequal and co-eternal with the Father. "Heir of all things." ‘Lord of all.’ "God over all." The voice attested,
2. The Father’s approbation and delight in him.
"My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Between the Father and the Son there was perfect oneness, both of perfections and will. The Father ever delighted in the Son; and the Son ever delighted in the Father. See Isa_42:1. God was especially well pleased in Christ’s mediatorial undertaking’97in the purity of his human nature’97in the benevolence of his miracles’97in his perfect obedience, &c.’97in his offering’97resurrection’97ascension’97intercession, &c. As a proof that he is well pleased in him, he has exalted him to his own right hand; given him a name above every name, &c.; Heb_1:1, &c.
3. The voice enjoined supreme attention to Christ.
"Hear ye him." No longer Moses; but the great Prophet of whom Moses was a type. No longer Elijah, or the prophets; but him to whom bare all the prophets witness. "Hear ye him;" at all times’97on all subjects’97on all occasions; as to doctrines’97as to worship’97as to experience’97as to practice’97as to promises’97as to time’97and as to eternity, "hear ye him." Notice,
XI. The Effect produced upon the Disciples.
"They fell on their face, and were sore afraid."
The scene was too grand and sublime for weakly human nature. Shows our present imperfect state; and the change we must undergo, before we can even endure the blaze of eternal day.
Then notice,
XII. Their gracious Recovery by Christ, and the Injunction which he laid upon them.
"And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid," &c.
How graciously and easily did Christ restore them! And with what tenderness he said, "Be not afraid." All the splendor was now removed; the cloud, the attendants had returned; and Jesus now appeared as before his transfiguration. He charged them "to tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." As he had to pass through the scenes of his abasement and humiliation, it was necessary to reserve this scene until, by his resurrection, he had proved himself the Son of God with power.
Application
Christ’s transfiguration,
(1) Clearly proved both the souls immortality, and the resurrection of the dead.
(2) Gave a splendid representation of he condition of saints in a future state.
(3) Showed the harmony of all the dispensations of religion God had established; that of the law’97prophets’97and Christ.
(4) The superior dignity and glory of the latter.
(5) Was calculated, also, to encourage Christ, as giving him an earnest of that feeling and glory which would arise to him from the execution of his mediatorial work.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS