LiTERATTXB. — Schleosner, htx. «.r. sm-rvK ; Meyer- Weiss <« Lk 2" : Keim, Jemu of Sazara (Eng. tr. ii SJ) ; Edershdm, Lift and Timet of Jetut, L IK ; Stanley, SP, iaA Tristzam, Land of Ifratl, as quoted ; Hepworth Dixon, Hoijf Land, L
ch. 13. ■ J. Cbom.\bty Smith.
MANIFESTATION.—!. The historic nianifcsta- tiou. — We shall not attempt in this article to say anything about such manifestations of Christ as those alluded to in Jn P, where He is spoken of as the Light which lighteth every man coming into
112
MAMFESTATION
MAKIFESTATION
the woild. Our first point must obviously be that manifestation in the flesh of which St. Paul speaks in his letter to Timothj^ (1 Ti S""). We are so accus- tomed to its outward form that to some extent we have lost its significance. Not in the court as a king's son, not in the Temple as the member of a priestly family, not in the wilderness as the son of some aged solitary who had given up the world, but in the familiar commonplace surroundings of a peasant family, as the Son of Mary, the wife of a village carpenter. This was tlie presentation of God to the world. Any of the other forms would have been more in accord with human ex- pectations. But we are learning more and luore everj' day that God loves the natural, not the out- of-the-way, as a means for manifestation. And this manifestation, first in the manger at Bethle- hem, then in the home at Nazareth, was the out- ward setting of the Divine Life, botii simple and natural. There were no miracles, no strange exhibitions of unseen powers, no external signs that led the men of Nazareth to mark out that home as being specially remarkable. Mary and Joseph, who alone knew the secret, read the Avonder of it in the spotless life which from infancy to manhood unfolded new beauties every day. Nothing like it had they ever seen or heard.
2. Manifestation by signs. — But this manifesta- tion of God in human character, though the only one seen during thirty out of thirty-thiee years, was not the only one. His mother evidently ex- pected something further. When He left His home to begin His ministry, she felt sure that this reserve and silence would be broken. It might come at any place, and at any time. And it was in accord with the humility and kindness of her character that she should believe it might come at a small village feast to meet a temporary social need. It is plain from our Lord's reply (Jn 2^) that she was looking for some manifestation, for He told her that the hour for such had not come. It is equally plain that she read in His words only a correction of her eagerness and supposition that she best knew the occasion. She had no doubt that He Avould help, and gave directions accordingly. And in that secret miracle, appar- ently imperceived at the time, and discovered only when there was an opportunity to ask the servants, He manifested forth His glory.
This is typical of the many manifestations that followed during the three years. They were not wonders wrought to force men's belief, but signs of Divine character. They were bits of teaching by illustration, object-lessons as we should call them. He never would work a miracle for the sake of astonishing men, though He was often asked to do so (Mt \2^^- W«-). They were all signs of God's sympathy with the needs of men, and the desire He had to relieve them. (See Wace, Some Central Points of Our Lord's Ministry, p. 133).
3. Manifestation of the Transf juration. — For some eighteen months there had been wonderful manifestations of Divine character and power, but no personal manifestation. Like any one else, Christ was seen tired, hungry, asleep, and in pain through the infirmities and sicknesses of others that He carried. He did not strive nor cry, neither was His voice heard in the streets (Mt 12'"). All was singularly quiet and unassuming, and men might well wonder what there was at the back of this astonishing teaching and these wonderful works. But once the disclosure was made (Mt 17'f- II Mk 92'-, Lk 928f-). See art. Transfigura- tion.
4. Manifestations after the EesurrQction. — It is very difficult to realize the character of these revelations of the Risen Lord. In one He is like a
gardener (.Jn 20"), in another, a traveller walking to a country village (Lk 24^^), in another, a stranger standing on the beach of the Lake (Jn 21^). Mk. speaks of the appearance to the two disciples on the road to Enimaus as being in 'another form' (Mk 16'-). They were manifestations marked by sudden appearances and disappearances. His home was elsewhere, but He came and went according to the disciples' needs. The body was real — could be touched as well as seen. Indeed, He was anxious that they should not suppose Him to be mere spirit, and actuallj' ate a jiiece of broiled fish before them in order to show them the reality of His bodily existence (Lk 24'*-). But these mani- festations are characterized by two features: (I) tliej' were made only to His friends ; (2) they were not apparently surrounded with glory and majesty.