March, 1938
Glory Today
PART I S t u d y o n t h e T r a n s f ig u r a t io n
thousands of cannibals speak in faith the name “Jesus.” Blessed experience if you, if I, could have been alone that day with W illis Hotchkiss when, after two and a half years’ work, he found the word for “ Saviour” in the tongue of an African tribe. Blessed experience if I, if you, had heard the sound of the hammer that became as claps of thunder circling the world as Luther nailed the mighty theses to the church door at Wittenberg. Blessed experience if you, if I, could have been alone with Lee as, refusing the leadership of the North ern armies offered him by Abraham Lin coln, he turned from Arlington and rode away. Blessed experience if you, if I, could have been beside Lincoln as he breathed his last and Seward said significantly, “ Now he belongs to the ages.” Blessed experience if you, if I, had been with the Pilgrims as they landed in New England, or with Bun- yan in jail, or with Paul in Rome. But, oh, to have been “in a high mountain apart” with Jesus as were Peter, James, and John at His transfiguration! But still we* can know the blessedness of aloneness, of apartness, with Christ whose face never lost its light, whose words never weakened in their authority, whose hands never failed in their tenderness, whose fac ulties never knew impoverishment or defeat, whose heart never lost its compassion, be cause He knew how to withdraw into soli tude and to take others into the solitude wTith Him, showing us that one can not set and serve a lavish table from a pantry poorly replenished. W e can have high hours apart with Him in the kitchen, in the office, in the rush of business matters, and even in the crowds— if we have ears
at the raising of the little daughter of Jairus (Mk. 5:37). With Him were these three men, flesh-wearied sleepers, during His agony in the Garden of Gethesmane, when the roots of His divine emotion put forth their crimson tears. With Him were these three men, sore-afraid witnesses of His glory in the mountain, when, by His person “ suddenly changed with enhanced effulgence,” He confirmed His precious ut terances about His diety—utterances which He had allowed them to ponder and medi tate upon for six days. “ Jesus taketh . . . them into a high mountain apart.” What blessednesss for Jesus this was, for solitude had much to do with His earthly life. Keeping Him self fresh by union with unseen and unfail ing springs, He was ever in touch with God. Divinely proficient in the art of isolating the inner life, He kept His outer life pungent and profound. But, I reverently venture to say, the sweetest blessedness of this taking them apart into this high mountain was the high and holy privilege devoutly to be desired and attained—this privilege of having a part in bringing high hours of spiritual experience and joy and instruction to people. However, we emphasize what a high privilege and blessedness was theirs—this opportunity to be alone with Him. It is ever a great experience to bei alone with great men. Blessed experience if you, if I, could have been with Carey when, on the day the French revolutionists tore the cross from Notre Dame, he landed at Calcutta and claimed a continent for Christ. Blessed experience if you, if I, had been alone with Paton the day he heard the first man amid
“ And was transfigured, before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his rai ment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). I N THE Bible, Book above and beyond all books as a river is beyond a rill in reach, there are three accounts of the transfiguration event in the life of our Lord Jesus. Matthew, with the care of one who plants precious seed, tells of His transfiguration when the inner light of Christ’s deity suddenly burst through His flesh and put an awe-inspiring radiance upon His brow. Mark, with the enthusi asm of one who has known of hidden glories revealed, writes of the wonder of that transcendent hour when Jesus was “ metamorphosed before three.” Luke, with the earnestness of one who puts a silver trumpet to his lips to summon people to worship, writes of that beautiful scene in the holy mount— a scene which was a pattern of the kingdom yet to come in power, even as the tabernacle was a pat tern of heavenly things (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16,17). And of this event when, as Jesus prayed, His manhood bloomed with deity, we now speak. I. The Taking “Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John . . . into a high mountain apart” (Matt. 17:1). Always was Jesus taking these men— these three of the inner circle— somewhere. Always He had these three mighties whom He allowed to accompany Him in some of the most sacred, intimate, and epochal hours of His ministry. With Him were these three men, witnesses of His power,
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