Moses died and was buried. More than nine hundred years had passed away, since Elijah " went up by a whirlwind into heaven." Yet here they are seen alive by Peter, James, and John !
Let us lay firm hold on this part of the vision. It deserves close attention. We must all feel, if we ever think at all, that the state of the dead is a wonderful aad mysterious subject. One after another we bury them out of our sight. We lay them in their narrow beds, and see them no more, and their bodies become dust. But will they really live again .^ Shall we really see them any more ? Will the grave really give back the dead at the last day ? These are questions that will occasionally come across the minds of some, in spite of all the plainest statements in the word of God.
Now we have in the transfiguration the clearest evidence that the dead will rise again. We find two men appearing on earth, in their bodies, who had long been separate from the land of the living — and in them we have a pledge of the resurrection of all. All that have ever lived upon earth will again be called to life, and render up their account. Not one will be found missing. There is no such thing as annihilation. All that have ever fallen asleep) in Christ will be found in safe keeping — patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs — down to the humblest servant of Grod in our own day. Though unseen to us, they all live to God. " He is not a God of the dead, but of the living." (Luke xx. 20.) Their spirits live as surely as we live ourselves, and will appear hereafter in glorified bodies, as surely as Moses and Elijah in the mount. These are indeed solemn
EXPOSITORY THOUGnTS.
thoughts ! There is a resurrection^ and men like Felix may well tremble. There is a resurrection, and men like Paul may well rejoice.
In the last place, we have in these verses a remark- able testimony to Christ's infinite superiority over all that are horn of woman.
This is a point which is brought out strongly by the voice from heaven, which the disciples heard. Peter, bewildered by the heavenly vision, and not knowing what to say, proposed to build three tabernacles, one for Christ, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He seemed in fact to place the law-giver and the prophet side by side with his divine Master, as if all three were equal. At once, we are told, the proposal was rebuked in a marked manner. — A cloud covered Moses and Elijah, and they were no more seen. — A voice at the same time came forth from the cloud, repeating the solemn words, made use of at our Lord's baptism, " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased : hear ye Him." That voice was meant to teach Peter, that there was one there far greater than Moses or Elijah. Moses was a faithful servant of God. Elijah was a bold witness for the truth. But Christ was far above either one or the other. He was the Saviour to whom law and prophets were con- tinually pointing. He was the true Prophet, whom all were commanded to hear. (Deut. xviii. 15 ) Moses and Elijah were gi^eat men in their day. But Peter and his companions were to remember, that in nature, dignity, and office, they were far below Christ. — He was the true sun : they were the stars depending daily on His light. — He was the root : they were the branches. — He was the
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Master : tliey were the servants. — Their goodness was all derived : His was original and His own. — Let them honor Moses and the proi:)hets, as holy men. But if they would be saved, they must take Christ alone for their Master, and glory only in Him. " Hear ye Him."
Let us see in these words a striking lesson to the whole Church of Christ. There is a constant tendency in human nature to " hear man." Bishops, priests, dea- cons, popes, cardinals, councils, presbyterian preachers, and independent ministers, are continually exalted to a place which God never intended them to fill, and made practically to usurp the honor of Christ. Against this tendency let us all watch, and be on our guard. Let these solemn words of the vision ever ring in our ears, " Hear ye Christ."
The best of men are only men at their very best. Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles — martyrs, fathers, reformers, puritans — all, all are sinners, who need a Saviour— holy, useful, honorable in their place — but sinners after all. They must never be allowed to stand between us and Christ. He alone is " the Son, in whom the Father is well pleased." He alone is sealed and appointed to give the bread of life. He alone has the keys in His hands, '' God over all, blessed for ever." Let us take heed that we hear His voice, and follow Him. Let "US value all religious teaching just in proportion as it leads us to Jesus. The sum and substance of saving religion is to " hear Christ."
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