The Transfiguration
The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the
transfiguration, when they were permitted to behold Christ's glory and to
hear the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. God chose
to
give the followers of Jesus strong proof that He was the promised Messiah,
that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment at His crucifixion, they
would not entirely cast away their confidence. At the transfiguration the
Lord sent Moses and Elijah to talk with Jesus concerning His sufferings
and
death. Instead of choosing angels to converse with His Son, God chose
those
who had themselves experienced the trials of earth. {EW 162.1}
Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and trying, for
the Lord through him had reproved the sins of Israel. Elijah was a prophet
of God; yet he was compelled to flee from place to place to save his life.
His own nation hunted him like a wild beast that they might destroy him.
But
God translated Elijah. Angels bore him in glory and triumph to heaven. {EW
162.2}
Moses was greater than any who had lived before him. He had been
highly
honored of God, being privileged to talk with the Lord face to face, as a
man speaks with a friend. He was permitted to see the bright light and
excellent glory that enshrouded the Father. The Lord through Moses
delivered
the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses was a mediator for his
people, often standing between them and the wrath of God. When the anger
of
the Lord was greatly kindled against Israel for their unbelief, their
murmurings, and their grievous sins, Moses' love for them was tested. God
proposed to destroy them
163
and to make of him a mighty nation. Moses showed his love for Israel by
his
earnest pleading in their behalf. In his distress he prayed God to turn
from
His fierce anger and forgive Israel, or blot his name out of His book. {EW
162.3}
When Israel murmured against God and against Moses because they could
get no water, they accused him of leading them out to kill them and their
children. God heard their murmurings and bade Moses speak to the rock,
that
the people might have water. Moses smote the rock in wrath and took the
glory to himself. The continual waywardness and murmuring of the children
of
Israel had caused him the keenest sorrow, and for a little time he forgot
how much the Lord had borne with them, and that their murmuring was not
against him, but against God. He thought only of himself, how deeply he
was
wronged, and how little gratitude they manifested in return for his deep
love for them. {EW 163.1}
It was God's plan to bring often His people into strait places, and
then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that they might
realize His love and care for them, and thus be led to serve and honor
Him.
But Moses had failed to honor God and magnify His name before the people
that they might glorify Him. In this he brought upon himself the Lord's
displeasure. {EW 163.2}
When Moses came down from the mount with the two tables of stone and
saw Israel worshiping the golden calf, his anger was greatly kindled, and
he
threw down the tables of stone and broke them. I saw that Moses did not
sin
in this. He was wroth for God, jealous for His glory. But when he yielded
to
the natural feelings of his heart and took to himself the honor which was
due to God, he sinned, and for that sin God would not suffer him to enter
the land of Canaan.
164
{EW 163.3}
Satan had been trying to find something wherewith to accuse Moses
before the angels. He exulted at his success in leading him to displease
God, and he told the angels that he could overcome the Saviour of the
world
when He should come to redeem man. For his transgression, Moses came under
the power of Satan-- the dominion of death. Had he remained steadfast, the
Lord would have brought him to the Promised Land, and would then have
translated him to heaven without his seeing death. {EW 164.1}
Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him life
before his body had seen corruption. Satan tried to hold the body,
claiming
it as his; but Michael resurrected Moses and took him to heaven. Satan
railed bitterly against God, denouncing Him as unjust in permitting his
prey
to be taken from him; but Christ did not rebuke His adversary, though it
was
through his temptation that the servant of God had fallen. He meekly
referred him to His Father, saying, "The Lord rebuke thee." {EW 164.2}
Jesus had told His disciples that there were some standing with Him
who
should not taste of death till they should see the kingdom of God come
with
power. At the transfiguration this promise was fulfilled. The countenance
of
Jesus was there changed and shone like the sun. His raiment was white and
glistening. Moses was present to represent those who will be raised from
the
dead at the second appearing of Jesus. And Elijah, who was translated
without seeing death, represented those who will be changed to immortality
at Christ's second coming and will be translated to heaven without seeing
death. The disciples beheld with astonishment and fear the excellent
majesty
of Jesus and the cloud that overshadowed them, and heard the voice of God
in
terrible majesty, saying, "This is My beloved Son; hear Him."
(165) {EW 164.3}
The Betrayal of Christ
I was carried down to the time when Jesus ate the Passover supper
with
His disciples. Satan had deceived Judas and led him to think that he was
one
of Christ's true disciples; but his heart had ever been carnal. He had
seen
the mighty works of Jesus, he had been with Him through His ministry, and
had yielded to the overpowering evidence that He was the Messiah; but
Judas
was close and covetous; he loved money. He complained in anger of the
costly
ointment poured upon Jesus. Mary loved her Lord. He had forgiven her sins,
which were many, and had raised from the dead her much-loved brother, and
she felt that nothing was too dear to bestow upon Jesus. The more precious
the ointment, the better could she express her gratitude to her Saviour by
devoting it to Him. Judas, as an excuse for his covetousness, urged that
the
ointment might have been sold and given to the poor. But it was not
because
he had any care for the poor; for he was selfish, and often appropriated
to
his own use that which was entrusted to his care to be given unto the
poor.
Judas had been inattentive to the comfort and even to the wants of Jesus,
and to excuse his covetousness he often referred to the poor. This act of
generosity on the part of Mary was a most cutting rebuke of his covetous
disposition. The way was prepared for Satan's temptation to find a ready
reception in the heart of Judas. {EW 165.1}
The priests and rulers of the Jews hated Jesus; but multitudes
thronged
to listen to His words of wisdom and to witness His mighty works. The
people
were stirred with the deepest interest and anxiously followed Jesus to
hear
the instructions of this wonderful teacher. Many of the rulers believed on
Him, but
166
dared not confess their faith lest they should be put out of the
synagogue.
The priests and elders decided that something must be done to draw the
attention of the people from Jesus. They feared that all men would believe
on Him. They could see no safety for themselves. They must lose their
position or put Jesus to death. And after they should put Him to death,
there would still be those who were living monuments of His power. Jesus
had
raised Lazarus from the dead, and they feared that if they should kill
Jesus, Lazarus would testify of His mighty power. The people were flocking
to see him who was raised from the dead, and the rulers determined to slay
Lazarus also, and put down the excitement. Then they would turn the people
to the traditions and doctrines of men, to tithe mint and rue, and again
have influence over them. They agreed to take Jesus when He was alone; for
if they should attempt to take Him in a crowd, when the minds of the
people
were all interested in Him, they would be stoned. {EW 165.2}
Judas knew how anxious they were to obtain Jesus and offered to
betray
Him to the chief priests and elders for a few pieces of silver. His love
of
money led him to agree to betray his Lord into the hands of His bitterest
enemies. Satan was working directly through Judas, and in the midst of the
impressive scene of the last supper, the traitor was devising plans to
betray his Master. Jesus sorrowfully told His disciples that all of them
would be offended because of Him that night. But Peter ardently affirmed
that although all others should be offended because of Him, he would not
be
offended. Jesus said to Peter: "Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may
sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:
and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31,32.
167
{EW 166.1}
I beheld Jesus in the garden with His disciples. In deep sorrow He
bade
them watch and pray, lest they should enter into temptation. He knew that
their faith was to be tried, and their hopes disappointed, and that they
would need all the strength which they could obtain by close watching and
fervent prayer. With strong cries and weeping, Jesus prayed, "Father, if
Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but
Thine, be done." The Son of God prayed in agony. Great drops of blood
gathered upon His face and fell to the ground. Angels were hovering over
the
place, witnessing the scene, but only one was commissioned to go and
strengthen the Son of God in His agony. There was no joy in heaven. The
angels cast their crowns and harps from them and with the deepest interest
silently watched Jesus. They wished to surround the Son of God, but the
commanding angels suffered them not, lest, as they should behold His
betrayal, they should deliver Him; for the plan had been laid, and it must
be fulfilled. {EW 167.1}
After Jesus had prayed, He came to His disciples; but they were
sleeping. In that dreadful hour He had not the sympathy and prayers of
even
His disciples. Peter, who was so zealous a short time before, was heavy
with
sleep. Jesus reminded him of his positive declarations and said to him,
"What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?" Three times the Son of God
prayed in agony. Then Judas, with his band of armed men, appeared. He
approached his Master as usual, to salute Him. The band surrounded Jesus;
but there He manifested His divine power, as He said, "Whom seek ye?" "I
am
He." They fell backward to the ground. Jesus made this inquiry that they
might witness His power and have evidence that He could deliver Himself
from
their hands if He would. {EW 167.2}
The disciples began to hope as they saw the multitude
168
with their staves and swords fall so quickly. As they arose and again
surrounded the Son of God, Peter drew his sword and smote a servant of the
high priest and cut off an ear. Jesus bade him to put up the sword,
saying,
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently
give Me more than twelve legions of angels?" I saw that as these words
were
spoken, the countenances of the angels were animated with hope. They
wished
then and there to surround their Commander and disperse that angry mob.
But
again sadness settled upon them, as Jesus added, "But how then shall the
Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" The hearts of the
disciples
also sank in despair and bitter disappointment, as Jesus suffered Himself
to
be led away by His enemies. {EW 167.3}
The disciples feared for their own lives, and they all forsook Him
and
fled. Jesus was left alone in the hands of the murderous mob. Oh, what a
triumph of Satan then! And what sadness and sorrow with the angels of God!
Many companies of holy angels, each with a tall commanding angel at their
head, were sent to witness the scene. They were to record every insult and
cruelty imposed upon the Son of God, and to register every pang of anguish
which Jesus should suffer; for the very men who joined in this dreadful
scene are to see it all again in living characters.
(169) {EW 168.1}
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