I shall open : —
First, The nature of this transfiguration.
Secondly, The ends of it.
First, The nature of this transfiguration. It was a glorious altera- tion in the appearance and qualities of his body, not a substantial alteration in the substance of it. It was not a change wrought in the essential form and substance of Christ's body, but only the outward form was changed, being more full of glory and majesty than it used to be or appeared to be.
Two things are to be handled : —
1. How it differed from his body at another time, whilst he con- versed here on earth.
2. How this change differed from the state of his body as it is now in glory.
1. How his body, now transfigured, differed from his body at other times during his conversing with men. Though the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him always, yet the state of his body was dis- posed so as might best serve for the decency of human conversation ; as the sun in a rainy, cloudy day is not seen, but now, as it might, discover his divine nature, it would break out in vigour and strength.
[1.] It was not a change or alteration of the substance of the body, as if it were turned into a spiritual substance. No; it remained still a true human, mortal body, with the same nature and properties it had before, only it became bright and glorious.
[2.] As the substance of the body was not changed, so the natural shape and features were not changed, otherwise how could
Mat. XVII. 2.] Christ's transfiguration. 355
it be known to be Christ ? The shajDe and features were the same, only a new and wonderful splendour put upon them.
[3.] This new and wonderful splendour was not in imagination and appearance only, but real and sensible. If it had been in imagina- tion, show, and appearance, it would make Christ like those deceivers who would dazzle the eyes of beholders with a false appearance, as magical impostors, or those apish imitators of divine glory ; as Herod Agrippa, of whom we read, Acts xii. 21-23, how he appeared in royal state and made an oration, and they said, ' The voice of a God, and not of a man.' Josephus telleth us the manner, how he sat in the sun with glistering garments of cloth of silver, and when the sun- beams did beat upon it, the people cried him up as Kpeirrova Ti)q dvijrr]!: (f)va€co^, as something higher and more excellent than a mor- tal creature. No ; this was not a phantastical representation, but a real impression of divine glory on the body of Christ.
[4.] Although this appeared in the face chiefly, as the most conspicu- ous part of the body, — the text saith his face did shine as the sun, — yet more or less the other parts of his body were clothed with majesty and glory, and thence was the splendour derived to his garments.
2. How his body transfigured differed from his glorified body. This must be stated also, for Christ, by his transfiguration, was not admitted into the fulness of the state of glory, but only givetb some glimpse and resemblance of it. These two estates agree in the general nature, but some clarity, glory, and majesty is put upon Christ's glorified body that was not now. But the difierence is : —
[1.] Partly in the degree and measure ; the clarity and majesty of Christ's glorified body is greater and more perfect. Here is a repre- sentation, some delineation, but not a full exhibition of His heavenly glory.
[2.] Partly in continuance and permanency. This change was not perpetual, but to endure for a short time only, for it ceased before they came down from the mount.
[3.] The subject or seat of this glory differed, the body of Christ being then corruptible and mortal, but now incorruptible and immortal. If Christ's body had been immortal and impassible, then Chi'ist could not die.
[4.] Here are garments, and a glorified body shall have no other garments than the robes of immortality and glory in heaven. Christ shall be clothed with light as with a garment.
Secondly, The ends of it. By this transfiguration God would show : —
1. What Christ was.
2. What he should be ; and also,
3. What we shall be.
1. What Christ was. The dignity of his person and office. That he was the eternal Son of God, and the mediator of the new cove- nant ; the great prophet whom God would raise up to his people.
[1.] The dignity of His person was seen, for the transfiguration was a ray of the divine glory. It was not the addition of any glory to Christ which he had not before, but a manifestation of the glory which he had, though obscured under the veil of our flesh ; for the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily, Col. ii. 9, ' And we beheld his
356 Christ's transfiguration. [Ser. II.
glory, as the glory of the only-begotten Son of God,' John i. 14. But it is said, 2 Pet. i. 17, that he received from God the same honour and glory. This is spoken of him as mediator ; the glory of the Son of God incarnate was so obscured, for our sakes, that he needed this solemn act to represent him to the world.