Now the single purpose of the Lord in giving Peter, James, and John this vision in the holy mount, was, as I have thus been endeavoring to show, to give His church a sight or sample of that heavenly glory which is their inheritance, and which is quite beside and above all previously expected glories, quite of another character from all the promises of glory made by Jehovah to Israel. The secret of God was here in vision disclosed to these favored disciples; the heavenly Jerusalem stood with her opened gates before them for a little passing moment; and though the disciples were then but “eye witnesses” standing on the earth, still in flesh and blood, and separated from that which they were beholding, they were afterward, through the Holy Ghost, taught to know that their portion was to be in that glory, that they were to take the better place of Moses and Elias with the Lord (2 Peter 1). And thus they might have seen, reflected in Moses and Elias glorified with the royal Son of Man, the inheritance of the saints in light, the hope of the calling of the Father of glory, the glory given to the Son, and imparted by the Son to the church, that they might be one with Him in it forever (Eph. 1:1717That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17), John 17:2222And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22)).
Peter's joy in the presence of this glory, and his desire to continue there (such was the satisfying delight which his soul was taking in the scene), may give us to know something of the character of the blessedness of Israel and the nations continuing in natural bodies, “of the earth earthly,” in the kingdom of the Son of Man when this His glory shall appear. But all this was merely incidental. The single purpose of the vision was to show the church her portion in the glory, and not to let Israel know their joy merely in the presence of it. The church's high calling of God in Christ Jesus was that which was to be established by this vision. The God of all grace has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus; and this was then exhibited. Accordingly the transfiguration passed on the Lord, on Moses and Elias—they all appeared in the same glory. Moses and Elias were no more, as they were once on earth, than was the Lord Himself: their vile bodies had been fashioned like unto His glorious body; and He, then appearing for a little time, they also appeared in glory with Him.
But what a mystery was this, that they should be fellow-heirs and of the same body! In other ages it was not made known to the sons of men, but now was manifested, visibly manifested; so that, as we may say, we have seen it with our eyes and have looked upon it. But truly it was so strangely excellent, so far surpassing the thoughts even of these chosen ones of Israel, that it was worthy of this solemn pledge and assurance, in order that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, and have strong consolation who have fled to this hope set before us. And oh that this was more and more our consolation! Oh that we abounded in the hope of this!—that our anchors were more firmly cast within the veil, and that we were more with desire wishing for the day! And not only were the saints in their glorified bodies exhibited in that holy mount, but the enfolding of the church with her blessed Head in the cloud of the excellent glory was seen there also. The promised “glory of the Father,” of which the Lord had spoken (xvi. 27), and in which He is to come when He brings His reward with Him, now descends on that holy hill. Surely this was none other than the house of God—the house where mansions are preparing for the saints in the Father's presence.
In that presence are the saints to be presented without spot; and then will they know the blessing which ear hath not heard nor the heart conceived. There will be the presence that refreshes, and the happy service of the redeemed day and night before the throne, while He that sitteth thereon is dwelling among them. There shall they see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. But “the blood of the Lamb” will have washed them and made them meet for this their inheritance in light. And therefore do we find that when Moses and Elias spake with the Lord in the Mount, they spake of “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:3131Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31)). And how suited was this also to rebuke Peter, who had so lately rebuked his Master for speaking in this manner of His decease! In glory they speak of it, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Oh what has made entrance for the glory, but the sufferings of Christ which it follows! The way to it has been opened by the nails and the spear, and the precious blood tracks it out for us all.
And here too we learn the secret of the disciples' fears in the presence of this excellent glory. “They feared as they i.e. the Lord and Moses and Elias (see Luke 9:3434While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. (Luke 9:34)) entered into the cloud.” For nothing will strengthen us to stand assured in the presence of the glory, but the knowledge of the humiliation of Christ; and this Peter and they who were with him knew not then. His humiliation is the only but the sure (most blessed) ground of fellowship with even the excellent glory; for it assures us that all that which this glory would have otherwise found in us to judge and to consume has been already judged and put away in Him Who bore all our shame. And this was most graciously assured to the disciples on this very occasion. For Jesus came to them, amazed and confounded as they were, and with a voice and touch of Son of Man restored them. And these were the signs of His humiliation: the voice and the touch could tell them that He, who was in the form of God, was found in fashion as a man like themselves, and that they need not fear. As in a like ease, the glory of God being found in the person of the Son of Man, the conscious patriarch could say, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” The majesty of the God of heaven was not therefore his destruction (Gen. 32:3030And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:30)). So the prophet's comeliness was turned into corruption, and he retained no strength in the presence of the same majesty; but he knew in himself that he was strengthened when the hand of one, in the appearance of a man, had touched him (Dan. 10:1818Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, (Daniel 10:18)). And thus it is ever; the divine terror shall not make us afraid, nor the hand of the Almighty be heavy upon us (though of old it meted out heaven and measured the waters, and gathered the winds,) if we know Him, Who has been formed out of the clay like ourselves, and is according to our wish in God's stead” (Job 33:6, 76Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. (Job 33:6‑7)).
And it was with this humiliated One that the disciples again (it might be too soon) found themselves alone, “when they lifted up their eyes,” —not knowing but that they should still behold the excellent glory. “But they saw no man save Jesus only.” Jesus! the title of all which men despised and rejected, the sign of the carpenter's son, of Him who belonged to Galilee, the Nazarene. With such an One did they now find themselves alone. The vision was yet to be for an appointed time; the glory had been folded up and was departed; and they were still to know only fellowship with Him Whom man was despising and the nation abhorring.
And with Him should we be walking still. And oh! for more and more power, through the holy Ghost, to know this blest companionship—companionship in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. For though we know not how short, yet still the vision is for an appointed time; but then in the end it shall speak and not lie. The glory is within the vail, but will surely come forth and not tarry; and all who have waited for it, and are in the power of the secret of it, shall find it to be their salvation, while it is consuming all things beside. Gideon and the host of Israel stood, for they were in the secret of the Lord, when the glory shone forth from the broken pitchers; but the host of Midian—the army of the aliens—cried and fled, and were discomfited. J. G. B.
(Concluded from page 117.)