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e pleads that they may witness a manifestation of His divinity that will comfort them in the hour of His supreme agony with the knowledge that He is of a surety the Son of God and that His shameful death is a part of the plan of redemption。
His prayer is heard。 While He is bowed in lowliness upon the stony ground； suddenly the heavens open； the golden gates of the city of God are thrown wide； and holy radiance descends upon the mount； enshrouding the Saviour's form。 Divinity from within flashes through humanity； and meets the glory coming from above。 Arising from His prostrate position； Christ stands in godlike majesty。 The soul agony is gone。 His countenance now shines 〃as the sun；〃 and His garments are 〃white as the light。〃
The disciples； awaking； behold the flood of glory that illuminates the mount。 In fear and amazement they gaze upon the radiant form of their Master。 As they become able to endure the wondrous light； they see that Jesus is not alone。 Beside Him are two heavenly beings； in close converse with Him。 They are Moses； who upon Sinai had talked with God； and Elijah； to whom the high privilege was givengranted to but one other of the sons of Adamnever to come under the power of death。
Upon Mount Pisgah fifteen centuries before； Moses had stood gazing upon the Land of Promise。 But because of his sin at Meribah； it was not for him to enter there。 Not for him was the joy of leading the host of Israel into the inheritance of their fathers。 His agonized entreaty； 〃I pray Thee； let me go over； and see the good land that is beyond Jordan； that goodly mountain； and Lebanon〃 （Deut。 3：25）； was refused。 The hope that for forty years had lighted up the darkness of the desert wanderings must be denied。 A wilderness grave was the goal of those years of toil and heart…burdening care。 But He who is 〃able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think〃 （Eph。 3：20）； had in this measure answered His servant's prayer。 Moses passed under the dominion of death； but he was not to remain in the tomb。 Christ Himself called him forth to life。 Satan the tempter had claimed the body of Moses because of his sin； but Christ the Saviour brought him forth from the grave。 Jude 9。
Moses upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ's victory over sin and death。 He represented those who shall come forth
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from the grave at the resurrection of the just。 Elijah； who had been translated to heaven without seeing death； represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ's second coming； and who will be 〃changed； in a moment； in the twinkling of an eye； at the last trump；〃 when 〃this mortal must put on immortality；〃 and 〃this corruptible must put on incorruption。〃 1 Cor。 15：51…53。 Jesus was clothed with the light of heaven； as He will appear when He shall come 〃the second time without sin unto salvation。〃 For He will come 〃in the glory of His Father with the holy angels。〃 Heb。 9：28； Mark 8：38。 The Saviour's promise to the disciples was now fulfilled。 Upon the mount the future kingdom of glory was represented in miniature；Christ the King； Moses a representative of the risen saints； and Elijah of the translated ones。
The disciples do not yet comprehend the scene； but they rejoice that the patient Teacher； the meek and lowly One； who has wandered to and fro a helpless stranger； is honored by the favored ones of heaven。 They believe that Elijah has come to announce the Messiah's reign； and that the kingdom of Christ is about to be set up on the earth。 The memory of their fear and disappointment they would banish forever。 Here； where the glory of God is revealed； they long to tarry。 Peter exclaims； 〃Master； it is good for us to be here： and let us make three tabernacles； one for Thee； and one for Moses； and one for Elias。〃 The disciples are confident that Moses and Elijah have been sent to protect their Master； and to establish His authority as king。
But before the crown must come the cross。 Not the inauguration of Christ as king； but the decease to be accomplished at Jerusalem； is the subject of their conference with Jesus。 Bearing the weakness of humanity； and burdened with its sorrow and sin； Jesus walked alone in the midst of men。 As the darkness of the coming trial pressed upon Him； He was in loneliness of spirit； in a world that knew Him not。 Even His loved disciples； absorbed in their own doubt and sorrow and ambitious hopes； had not comprehended the mystery of His mission。 He had dwelt amid the love and fellowship of heaven； but in the world that He had created； He was in solitude。 Now heaven had sent its messengers to Jesus； not angels； but men who had endured suffering and sorrow； and who could sympathize with the Saviour in the trial of His earthly life。 Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ。 They had shared His longing for the salvation of men。 Moses had pleaded for Israel： 〃Yet now； if Thou wilt forgive their sin； and if not； blot me； I pray Thee； out of Thy book which Thou hast written。〃 Ex。 32：32。 Elijah
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had known loneliness of spirit； as for three years and a half of famine he had borne the burden of the nation's hatred and its woe。 Alone he had stood for God upon Mount Carmel。 Alone he had fled to the desert in anguish and despair。 These men； chosen above every angel around the throne； had come to commune with Jesus concerning the scenes of His suffering； and to comfort Him with the assurance of the sympathy of heaven。 The hope of the world； the salvation of every human being； was the burden of their interview。
Through being overcome with sleep； the disciples heard little of what passed between Christ and the heavenly messengers。 Failing to watch and pray； they had not received that which God desired to give them；a knowledge of the sufferings of Christ； and the glory that should follow。 They lost the blessing that might have been theirs through sharing His self…sacrifice。 Slow of heart to believe were these disciples； little appreciative of the treasure with which Heaven sought to enrich them。
Yet they received great light。 They were assured that all heaven knew of the sin of the Jewish nation in rejecting Christ。 They were given a clearer insight into the work of the Redeemer。 They saw with their eyes and heard with their ears things that were beyond the comprehension of man。 They were 〃eyewitnesses of His majesty〃 （2 Peter 1：16）； and they realized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah； to whom patriarchs and prophets had witnessed； and that He was recognized as such by the heavenly universe。
While they were still gazing on the scene upon the mount； 〃a bright cloud overshadowed them： and behold a voice out of the cloud； which said； This is My beloved Son； in whom I am well pleased； hear ye Him。〃 As they beheld the cloud of glory； brighter than that which went before the tribes of Israel in the wilderness； as they heard the voice of God speak in awful majesty that caused the mountain to tremble； the disciples fell smitten to the earth。 They remained prostrate； their faces hidden； till Jesus came near； and touched them； dispelling their fears with His well…known voice； 〃Arise； and be not afraid。〃 Venturing to lift up their eyes； they saw that the heavenly glory had passed away； the forms of Moses and Elijah had disappeared。 They were upon the mount； alone with Jesus。
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Chapter 47
Ministry
The entire night had been passed in the mountain； and as the sun arose； Jesus and His disciples descended to the plain。 Absorbed in thought； the disciples were awed and silent。 Even Peter had not a word to say。 Gladly would they have lingered in that holy place which had been touched with the light of heaven； and where the Son of God had manifested His glory； but there was work to be done for the people； who were already searching far and near for Jesus。
At the foot of the mountain a large company had gathered； led hither by the disciples who had remained behind； but who knew whither Jesus had resorted。 As the Saviour drew near； He charged His three companions to keep silence concerning what they had witnessed； saying； 〃Tell the vision to no man； until the Son of man be risen again from the dead。〃 The revelation made to the disciples was to be pondered in their own hearts； not to be published abroad。 To relate it to the multitudes would excite only ridicule or idle wonder。 And even the nine apostles would not understand the scene until after Christ had risen from the dead。 How slow of comprehension even the three favored disciples were； is seen in the fact that notwithstanding all that Christ had said of what was before Him； they queried among themselves what the rising from the dead
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should mean。 Yet they asked no explanation from Jesus。 His words in regard to the future had filled them with sorrow； they sought no further revelation concerning that which they were fain to believe might never come to pass。
As the people on the plain caught sight of Jesus； they ran to meet Him； greeting Him with expressions of reverence and joy。 Yet His quick eye discer