2   And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;
      3   and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.
      4   And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
      5   And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, 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.
      6   For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.
      7   And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.
      8   And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
      17   And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;
      18   And wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.
      25   And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
      26   And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.
      27   But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
      28   And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?
      29   And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 2. Six days after what? (After Peter's confession, and the subsequent teaching concerning Jesus' sufferings and glory, Mark 8:27-9:1). What three did He take with Him? (These also He took to Gethsemane. Matt. 26:37). What happened on the mountain-top?

Verse 3. What change came over His garments? What other change was seen? (His face. See Matt. 17:2; Luke 9:29).

Verse 4. Who appeared? How? ("In glory." Luke 9:31). Of what did they talk to Jesus? (About His decease. Luke 9:31).

Verses 5, 6. Why would Peter have thought it good to be there? What mistake did he make? (Ranking the Lord Jesus on a level with Moses and Elijah). Was Peter speaking thoughtfully?

Verses 7, 8. Was this an ordinary cloud? (Matt. 17:5). Who was in the cloud and spoke? What did God say about Jesus? WHo only was seen when the Voice came?

Verses 17, 18. Where and when was this? (At the foot of the mountain when they came down, Mark 9:14-16). What had happened there in the meanwhile? Why should the disciples have been able to help the afflicted boy? See Luke 9:1. Why were they not able? (Matt. 17:20). What did Jesus say about that affair? (Mark 9:19). Read also the conversation between the Lord Jesus and the boy's father, (Mark 9:21-24).

Verses 25-27. Point out 1. What the Lord did to cast the demon out. 2. What the demon did as he came out. 3. What the condition of the boy was when the demon had left him. 4. How the Lord Jesus restored him.

Verses 28, 29. What question did the disciples ask the Lord privately? What answer did He give them as recorded in

Matt. 17:20? What additional answer here? What more is found in "many ancient authorities?" ("and fasting." Revised Version, footnote.) Is there a close connection between the strength of a man's faith, and prayer with fasting? (Most assuredly!) Note also Golden Text.

NOTES AND TEACHING-POINTS.

THE REASON FOR THE TRANSFIGURATION.

      The Transfiguration was God's provision for strengthening the three apostles, Peter, James and John, who were leaders among the apostles that they might be able to withstand the shock of the coming awful tragedy of the death of their Lord, and might in turn be able to strengthen their brethren. On the mountain-top they were granted a glimpse of Christ's divine glory. Peter never forgot the vision and many years later he wrote with much assurance, "We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of the Lord Jesus but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Peter claimed that the transfiguration proved the truth of his doctrine of Jesus' Power and Coming, for there he had personally beheld His majesty. Continuing Peter's quotation--"For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven when we were with him in the holy mount." (2 Pet. 1:16-18). The fact that God added the words, "Hear ye him," and that when after the Voice, the disciples saw "no one but Jesus only," is of highest significance. Even so great and good men as Moses and Elijah cannot be placed on quality with the Lord Jesus. We do well to note this carefully in our own day, when the tendency to deify man, on the one hand, or, on the other, to overemphasize the human nature of the Lord Jesus is very great. [123]

VISION AND TASK.

      The mountain-top experience was very wonderful. Indeed, it was even as Peter said, good to be there. But they must needs come down, for there was work to be done at the foot of the mountain. Just so after refreshing times of special fellowship--veritable mountain-top experiences--Christians must separate and go forth to do service. The tasks and problems are waiting for us.

AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN.

      The scene at the foot of the mountain was a dark contrast to the glorious one the inner circled had just witnessed. A man had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples, but they were not able to cast out the demon. They had the power and authority to cast him out, but because of their little faith (Matt. 17:20) they were unable to avail themselves of the power God had granted them. For the same reason we are constantly falling short of possessing our possessions, and failing to avail ourselves of the infinite resources of Christ, though they are completely ours. How the disciples were disgraced on that occasion, and what a reproach it was to the Lord! The crowd had gathered with jeers and jibes, and, of course, the scribes were ready to taunt the poor powerless disciples. It was just the sort of scene unbelievers delight in, and it always occurs when Jesus' disciples lose faith and get out of touch with their Lord. We need constantly to remember the words of the Golden Text, "Apart from me ye can do nothing." The arrival of Jesus turned the tide and changes defeat into victory. When he comes again shall we be found abiding in Him, and in faithful service until, or shall we, like the defeated disciples at the mountain's base, be ashamed before Him at His coming?

QUESTIONS FOR CLASS USE.

1. When was this? (Mark 8:27-9:2).
2. Whom did Jesus take with Him?
3. To what place did they go?
4. What happened there?
5. Of what color did His garments become? How white?
6. Who appeared? What did they do?
7. What did Peter say? To whom did he say it?
8. What caused him to say this?
9. What came over the whole scene?
10. Was this a common cloud? (Matt. 17:5).
11. What came out of the cloud?
12. What did the Voice say?
13. When they looked whom only did they see?
14. What did they find at the mountain base?
15. What complaint did a man make to Jesus?
16. What was the boy's affliction?
17. For what had the father brought him to the disciples?
18. SHould they have been able to help? Why? (Luke 9:1).
19. Tell what Jesus did?
20. What question did the disciples ask?
21. Why were they not able to heal the boy? What additional reason in Matt. 17:20?
22. What did Jesus think of his answer?
23. What good, encouraging word did Jesus say to him?
24. What effect had all this on his critics and enemies?

Source: Third Lord's Day Lesson of April. Lesson 3. April 15, 1928. Transfiguration and Service (Mark 9:2-8, 17,