The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 258

Ver. 28.-Tlu, Tra,ufiguration. This incident is one that stands quite by itself; it is wholly unlike everything else in our Lord's history. It was miraculous enough, yet we do not count it amongst the miracles of Christ, It may be viewed in many lights; it may illustrate- L THE CLOSE RELATION BETWEEN OUB BPIBITUAL AND OUR BODILY l!IATUlllL Thia manifested glory was not altogether outward; it was more than a radiance thrown around or imposed upon him, which might just as readily have occurred to any Jewish rabbi. It does not correspond with the illumination of the wall of a building or the face of a cathedral. It was the glory of his Divine nature, usually hidden, now shining through and revealing itself in his form and countenance. We are sure that the appear- ance of our Lord at all times answered to his character and his spirit. We gather this from the charm which he exerted over his disciples and over little children; from the confidence which he inspired in the soci,i.l outcasts of his day; iD the occasional flash,. ings forth of his Divine sovereignty (John ii. 15; Mark x. 32; John xviii. 6). The Transfiguration was by far the most striking instance of his bodily nature being lighted up and irradiated by his indwelling glory; there wa.s as much of the spiritual as of the material about it; it could not have happened to any other than to our Lord. And tl,is opens the question how far our spiritual experiences may and should glorify our 1-ersonal appearance. The spirit does act powerfully upon and manifest itself through the Lody which is its organ. We know how love gleams, how indignation flashes, how scorn and hatred lower, how hope shinee, how disappointment pales, how all the passions that breathe and burn in the human breast come forth and make themselves f.,lt iD the eye, the lip, the countenance of man. We may and should see a kind or a pure heart in a kind or pure countenance, as we do see avarice or indulgence in a keen or a bloated visage. We be&r about iD our body the marks of our association with the Lord Jesus, and other marks also which are not derived from such fellowship as that. Holiness has its tran■figuring influence, as sin has its debasing effect, upon the human form and figure-the one refines and glorifies, as the other disfigures and degrades. '!'here are two things to be heeded here, 1. We must not ~ra_w hasty _and unjust inferences; there are tllose who, so far as appearance goes, are victims of misfortune 01 are vicarious sufferers. 2. We must endeavour to let a holy character be visible in our bodily persons. Inward excellence is tha source of outward beauty, No tailoring or millinery 1 no cosmetics or perfumery, will make beautiful the face and form behind which is an ugly heart; selfishne11s and pride and envy will never look anything but unsightly and forbidding. The thouFihts that breath~, t_he fe~lings_ that glo~, the sp!riL that animates, the character that shines through-it 18 this which beautifies, which adorns, which makes attractive, which wins confidence and love. These are the things w care for, to cultit"ate, to cherish; it is thence that our influence for gooJ will spring. 011. 1x. 1-62.) TIIE GOSPEL ACCOfiDING TO ST. LUKE.