The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 241

rov~lation and teMhlng which has at once t11,iled-evirlently Peter preoerved o. very olrnrmcd 1Lnd influenced so m1L11y million• of vivid memory or theoe events - tells us that men m1d women now for more than eighteen the crowds, "whon they beheld him, were hundred ye1Lrs. Something of the purp.,se greatly ama7,ed." Witl1011t cuncl11di11g that which the 'l'ransfiguration was intended to o.ny li11geri11g ra,liance of the last night'd aorve in the education of the twelve has glory was still playing about !,is Person, wo been alrC1Ldy discussed in the foregni ng may well imagine that a holy jny j01st then lit notes. Dr. Lange, who has me.de this difli. np that face over which for some tiwe past cult p!Lseage in the story of Jesus e. subject a cloud of deep sadness had brooded. The of deep and carucet study, he.a given us heavenly visitants; the words be had been some beautiful thoughts on the real signifi- listening to, which told him of his borne of co.tion of the Lord's transfiguration. This grandeur and of peace, voluntarily left by scholar and divine considers that, jnst e.t him that he might work his mighty earth- this pe1fod of hie public ministry, Jesus had work ;-had no doubt strengthened with a reached the zenith of his power. This is strange strength the l\lan of sorrows; and indicated by the grandeur of his recent when the crowds gazed on his face they miracles. There was nothing higher and mar'l"ellecl, as St. Mark tells us, at what more sublime to be reached by him. From they saw there. this moment, therefore, earthly existenee Ver. 38.-A man of the company cried became too narrow a sphere. There only out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look remained death; but death is, as St. Paul upon my son : for he is mine only child. says, the wages of sin. For the sinless Man The tender sympathy of St. Luke is shown the issue of life is not the sombre passage of in this little detail. He is the only evange- the tomb, rather is it the royal road of a list who mentions that the poor tormented glorious transformation. Had the hour of boy was an only child. this glorification struck for Jesus ? and was Ver. 40.-And I besought thy disciples to the Trnnsfiguro.tion the beginning of the cast him out ; and they oould not. This heavenly renewal? Gess, quoted by Godet appears to have been a case of the deadliest -from whose prt!cis of Lange's note these kiud of epileptic lunacy. Our Lord dis- observations are derived-i;ives expression tiuctly assumes here that the rlisease in this to Lange's thoughts in these words : " This case was oc=ionerl Ly o.n unci<,an spirit event (the Transfiguration) indicates the who had taken possession of the suffering ripe preparation of J e~us for immediate child. The whole question of demoniacal entrance upon eternity." "Had not Jesus possession, its extent, itd cause, "hether or himself," goes on Godet to say, thus con- no it still survives in some of the many cluding this very beautiful and suggestive, mysterious phases of madness, i.:3 very diffi- if somewhat fo.nciful note, "voluntarily sus- cult. It has been discussed elsewhere (see pended this change which was on the.point notes on eh. iv. 33 1Lnd following verses). of being wrought in him, this moment, the Ver. 41.-And lesus answering 8'11.i.d, 0 moment of his glorious transfiguro.tion faithless and perverse generation, how long would have become the moment of his shall I be with you, and suffer you l This ascension." grave and mournful expression of the loving Vere. 37-45.-The scene at the foot of the bot just Master was a.ddresaed to the entire hill uf Transfi9uration. The healing of the crowd, in whose midst he now found him- demoniac boy. self. The people, swayed hither and thither, Vor. 37.-0n the next day, when they now enthusiastic in hi~ favour, when some were come down from the hill. The Trans- sweet promise, or noblo sentiment, or mar- figuration had taken place in the lo.te even- vellous work touched their hearts, now i11g or night. It probaLly lasted for o. much coldly indifferent or ernn hostile, when his h,ger period than the brief account, pre- teRchiug seemed to exact some painful served by the eye-witnesses, seems to spco.k sa. ·rifice of self at their handa.-these were of. How long the three di,ciples slept is looking on with quiet indifference at his not mentio110,I. ,vcaried ,in<l exho.uste, I, disciples' failure in the case of the poor deep slumber overtook them while the pos;,•ssed child, and !ibtened to their scribes lllastcr wo.s praying. When they awoke, as they wrangled with the Lord's dismayed Jesus was bathed in glory, and the two and perplexed followers. These followers, hua.venly spirits were conversing with him. trying to imitate their Master in his wonder- 'l'hoy only tell us generolly tb.e.t the subject works, but foiling boc,mse, after all, their which occupied the blessed ones was t!J.eir faith in him wavered. The father of the llliLster'd speedy dep,uture from ea.rth; no child, confessing his unbelief, but utterly rnoution is w1ule of the time all this con- wretch, tl at the sight of the suffering of his sumPd. It w11s moruiug when they rejoined boy, 'fhe ghu.stly spectacle of the ins,\ne their company. Jnuoh peo:,le met him. boy writhing and foaming ou the grountl, St, Murie, whoso account hero is more tle- and then lying a.ll bruiBcJ a.nil Jishevelle,1 LUKK, ii,  242 THE GOSrEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKE. [CY1. IX, 1-02,