LESSON XXI.-SABBATH, MAY 26, 1894

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 14, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 28.

LESSON XXI.—SABBATH, MAY 26, 1894.

POWER AND GLORY OF HIS COMING.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 9:28-50.

28. And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.

29. And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling.

30. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah;

31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32. Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33. And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said.

34. And while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

35. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen; hear ye him.

36. And when the voice came, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37. And it came to pass, on the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.

38. And behold, a man from the multitude cried, saying, Master, I beseech thee to look upon my son; for he is mine only child;

39. And behold, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth, and it hardly departeth from him, bruising him sorely.

40. And I besought thy disciples to cast it out; and they could not.

41. And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you? Bring hither thy son.

42. And as he was yet a-coming, the devil dashed him down, and tare him grievously. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43. And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which he did, he said unto his disciples,

44. Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.

45. But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46. And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

47. But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, he took a little child, and set him by his side,

48. And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me receiveth Him that sent me; for he that is least among you all, the same is great.

49. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.

50. But Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not; for he that is not against you is for you.

The last verse of the last lesson is properly the first of this, for the transfiguration was the fulfillment of the promise that some then present should not taste death till they had seen the Son of Man come with power. Do not neglect to reread the preceding lesson while studying this. A careful reading of the verses composing this lesson will show the following topics: The transfiguration; casting an unclean spirit out of a child; announcement of Christ's approaching death; a lesson of humility; exclusiveness forbidden. The most prominent things in the lesson are the transfiguration, and the healing of the child. The other things are no less important; but if the lesson is carefully studied as a whole, these most striking features will serve to recall the others to the mind.

What had Jesus said that some of his disciples should see before their death?
What did he do about eight days afterward?
As he prayed, what took place?
Who appeared with him in glory?
Of what did they talk?
What were the three disciples doing?
What did they see when they awoke?
What did Peter say?
As he was speaking, what overshadowed them?
What was heard from the cloud?
As they came down from the hill the next day, who met them?
What request was made by a man of the company?
Describe the condition of the man's son.
What effort had the man made for his son's restoration?
What did Jesus say?
What took place as the child was coming to him?
What followed?
How were the people affected by the miracle?
Of what did Jesus again remind his disciples?
How did this information affect them?
Concerning what did a dispute arise among them?
How did Jesus reprove them?
Who did he say shall be the greatest?
What did John say they had done to the man who was casting out devils in his name?
What did Jesus say in reproof of their exclusiveness?

NOTES.

1. THAT the transfiguration was a miniature representation of the second coming of Christ, is evident from the words of Peter: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." 2 Peter 1: 16-18.

2. WHEN Christ comes, it will be with the glory of the Father. Matt. 16: 27. See also verse 28 of the chapter we are studying. When he comes there will be two classes of the righteous,—those who have died and are raised to life immortal, and those who are alive and are changed to immortality and taken to heaven without tasting death. See 1 Thess. 4: 14-17. These two classes were represented at the transfiguration. "Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab." Deut. 34: 5, 6. The only way by which a man once dead can ever appear among the living is by a resurrection. Jude, in showing the meekness of Christ, incidentally refers to the resurrection of Moses: "Yet Michael the Archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring

against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 9. The devil has the power of death, through sin (Heb. 2: 14), and so he claimed Moses as his lawful prey. Christ claimed him by right of redemption, yet would not rail at the devil. By virtue of his superior power he delivered Moses from the grave, and so they were together in the holy mount. Elijah had been taken to heaven in a whirlwind,—translated to heaven without seeing death. These two representatives of the vast host of the redeemed at the last day were with Christ when he appeared in the glory with which he will be clothed at his second advent.

3. "This is my beloved Son; hear him." Does this absolve men from the duty of hearing and obeying God the Father? Hear him: "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Deut. 18: 18. Hear him: "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." John 7: 16. "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." John 12: 49. "The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14: 10. "As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." John 8: 28. Hear him: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matt. 5: 17. "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall." Luke 16: 17. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7: 21. Christ is the only manifestation of God to man. The law of God is the righteousness of God. Isa. 51: 6, 7; Rom. 3: 21, 22. It is God's way. Ps. 119: 1, 2. Therefore the life of God is the law of the universe. But Christ is God. In him is life, even the life of God. In the life of Christ we see the law of God in action. So the law of God is found by men only in the life of Christ. He is the one mediator between God and man, to bring man to God. Therefore we are commanded to hear him. For the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." John 5: 22, 23.