THE TRANSFIGURATION.
"And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias; who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem, but Peter and they that were with him ere heavy with sleep; and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good or us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son; hear him." "And when the disciples heard, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." "And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean."
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and sake unto them, Elias shall truly first come and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist."
On the next day after the transfiguration, Jesus, with Peter, James, and John came down from the hill where the kingdom had been shown them in miniature; and when they came to the other disciples, they saw a great multitude gathered about them, and the scribes questioning with them. "And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, saluted him.
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answered him and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him; but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe; all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
And the spirit cried, and rent him sore; and came out of him; and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand; and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."
THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION.
TABOR is the traditional ''mount of transfiguration," but there seems to be much doubt in the minds of travelers about its being the true scene of this wonderful occurrence, although the tradition dates as early as the fourth century. Says one,
“If we might choose a place which we would deem peculiarly fitting for so sublime a transaction, there is certainly none which would so entirely satisfy our feelings in this respect as the majestic, beautiful Tabor; but this theory seems highly improbable from the fact that just a little before this glorious event Jesus was far away from Tabor, near Caesarea Philippi. Moreover, the summit of Tabor was at that time occupied by a fortified town." Some think it very probable that the event may have occurred on one of the spurs or recesses of Mount Hermon. This view seems at least reasonable, for there is no proof that the disciples and their Master had left the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, which was itself situated on a spur of Hermon.
A few, however, still stoutly contend that Mount Tabor is the probable site of the transfiguration, claiming that the fortified city did not cover the whole mountain, and, but there must have been plenty of retired spots where the sublime scene might have occurred. From its comparative isolation from other mountains, they think it best answers to the account of Matthew, "a high mountain apart."