that of the prophet Jonas. He sighed deeply in his spirit over their impenitence and unbelief: he felt already the agony of Gethsemane. He was about fully to declare unto his disciples what things were to befall him; but meanwhile rebuked them for their want of understanding. They had already forgotten the miracles of the loaves. He bade them beware of the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees, and grieved at their little faith, because, having no bread, they understood his caution literally. He saw that their hearts were hardened, and that their understanding was darkened; but reminding them of the miracles he had wrought, led them to perceive that he spake not of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Scribes. Another miracle, wrought upon a blind man, resembled that performed upon the deaf and dumb. He led the blind man aside, and when he had spit upon his eyes, he touched them, and asked if he saw aught. The blind man looked up, and said, "I see men as trees walking." Again he touched them, and the blind man saw every man clearly. The disciples were probably the witnesses of this, and in it beheld their own imperfect spiritual vision. As yet they discerned the things of the kingdom only as the blind man in his partial restoration. The time approached when they were to have their eyes fully opened, and to perceive the nature of the dominion which Jesus. had come upon earth to establish. XXIV. The Transfiguration. Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi. And as he was alone with his disciples, he asked them, "Whom say the people that I am?" They answered, "John the Baptist, but some say Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." He saith unto them, "But whom say ye that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Thus he confirmed their confession and declaration; for Peter answered for all. Their testimony was not the opinion of men, but the revelation of God; for flesh and blood had not declared to them the truth that Jesus is the Christ. On faith in God's revelation is his church founded; and as he is everlasting, and cannot change, so even death, which destroys what rests on human authority, shall not prevail against the church of the living God. What is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what is loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven. After the disciples were rooted and grounded in this faith, revealed to them of the Father, from that time forth, as they were ready to receive his sayings, the Saviour began to show to the twelve that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the Jews, and be killed, and raised again the third day. They were admitted to a fuller confidence than he bestowed upon the world. The multitude listened in wonder, the disciples hung in love upon his lips. The people followed the prophet with curiosity and awe, but probably forgot what they could not understand. The twelve questioned in their hearts what certain things could mean, but guarded their Master's secrets, keeping such things among themselves, as they were charged to tell to no man. When he spake the saying openly—that is, in plain terms declared to his disciples what must befall him, Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee." The Saviour turned and looked upon his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." It was Peter's fault, in common with the other disciples, that he looked for an earthly triumph. Therefore he could not endure that the Son of God, in whom he believed, should establish his victory over death by descending into the grave. He did not desire that he should thus establish his word, "I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it again." But though his thoughts were thus still earthly, Jesus knew that the spirit was willing, and selected Peter as one of the witnesses of the wonderful manifestation he was about to receive of the glory of the Son. Jesus permitted his disciples, for a few days after he had openly or plainly declared to them the manner in which he should die, to remain in doubt and suspense. It was not doubt as to the truth of the words which he had spoken. It was not doubt as to the fact that he was the Christ. It was not doubt as to the fulfilment of the prophecy that he should restore the kingdom to Israel. But they were pained and perplexed in the effort to reconcile an ignominious and cruel death, with the reign in righteousness which was promised to the seed of David. It was to humble their pride and to test their faith, by the patience that worketh experience, that our blessed Lord thus proved them. In his own good time he pursued his own mode to strengthen their hearts and to build up their faith. He taketh, at even-tide, Peter and James and John up into an high mountain, apart by themselves. Why these three disciples were chosen over the others to be the immediate witnesses of that night's wonders, has been the subject of much speculation and inquiry. In the great work of evangelising the world, a variety of talents |