The connection of this passage with the end of the last chapter ought never to be overlooked. Our Lord had been speakimg of His own coming death and passion — of the necessity of self-denial, if men would be His disciples • — of the need of losing our lives, if we would have them saved. — But in the same breath he goes on to speak of His future kingdom and glory. He takes off the edge of His " hard sayings/' by promising a sight of that glory to some of those who heard Him. And in the history of the transfiguration, which is here recorded, we see that promise fulfilled.
The first thing which demands our notice in these verses, is the marvellous vision they contain of the glory which Christ and His people shall have at His second com- ing.
There can be no doubt that this was one of the prin- cipal purposes of the transfiguration. It was meant to teach the disciples, that though their Lord was lowly and poor in appearance now, He would one day appear in such royal majesty as became the Son of God. It was meant to teach them that when their Master came the second time, His saints, like Moses and Elias, would appear with Him. It was meant to remind them, that though reviled and persecuted now, because they belonged to Christ, they would one day be clothed with honor, and be partakers of their Master's glory.*
* The analogy between the glory assumed by our Lord at His transfiguration, and the glory which the saints shall receive at His resurrection, is well pointed out by Victor Antiochenus in a passage quoted by Du Veil. He says, "We must not suppose that there is to be any change of the natural form of man in the kingdom of heaven. For as the appearance of Christ was not in
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We have reason to thank God for this vision. We are often tempted to give up Christ's service, because of the cross and affliction which it entails. We see few with us, and many against us. We rind our names cast out as evil, and all manner of evil said of us, because we believe and love the Gospel. Year after year we see our com- panions in Christ's service removed by death, and we feel as if we knew little about them, except that they are gone to an unknown world, and that we are left alone. All these things are trying to flesh and blood. No won- der that the faith of believers sometimes languishes, and their eyes fail while they look for their hope.
Let us see in the story of the transfiguration, a remedy for such doubting thoughts as these. The vision of the holy mount is a gracious pledge that glorious things are in store for the people of God. Their crucified Saviour shall come again in power and great glory. His saints shall all come with Him, and are in safe keeping until that happy day. We may wait patiently. " When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Colos. iii. 4.)
The second thing which demands our notice in this passage, is the strong expression of the apostle Peter, ichen he sav) his Lord transfigured. " Master," he said, " it is good for us to be here."
No doubt there was much in this saying, which cannot be commended. It showed an ignorance of the purpose
itself changed, but only illumined (or glorified) — so, also, the just who will be conformed to His glorious body, will not be changed as to their outward form. Their bodies will only receive a certain ac- cession of splendor and light, which St. Paul calls a change, (1 Cor. xv. 52.) but the evangelists a transfiguration."