The transitory and the permanent.
It almost seems as if St. Peter's foolish speech spoilt the scene. It is said that "while he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them." It might be a "bright cloud," but it effectually shut out from view the glorified visitors and the transfigured Lord. True, out of it came the marvellous voice, which so alarmed the disciples that they "fell on their face, and were sore afraid." But when the cloud passed, and Jesus bade them "arise," the glory was all gone; there was only Jesus, and he was just as they were accustomed to see him. It is a peculiarity of Mount Hermon that a cloud will be seen to form with extreme rapidity on its summit, and with equal rapidity disperse and disappear, The point on which we dwell is, that St. Peter made a grave mistake when he wanted a special scene to be made a permanent one. The transitory and the permanent each have their mission and their proper relations. There is no wisdom in wishing to confuse them. Take each in its place. Illustrate this.
I. THE TRANSITORY IS THE GLORIFIED CHRIST; THE PERMANENT IS THE HUMAN CHRIST. Only for a little while could the earth bonds be loosened, and the glory which Christ was, shine freely out. That was not fitting for the continuous earth relations. For the present the permanent thing was the human body, with its limitations, endurances, and sufferings. But the relief moments must have brought holiest joy. (For Christ's voluntary limitations, see Philippians 2:1-30.)
II. THE TRANSITORY IS THE SEASON OF HIGH REVELATION; THE PERMANENT IS THE COMMONPLACE, EVERYDAY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. Christian biographies preserve records of ecstatic scenes and experiences enjoyed by Christ's people. In their very nature such things must be transitory. They would not be what they are if they continued. But what a help and cheer they are to us in the wearing and wearying experience of everyday Christian life! Yet is not this the fact—we might oftener have the cheer of vision and revelation if we set ourselves in the way, and climbed the lonely mount for prayer?
III. THE TRANSITORY IS THE RELIEF time; THE PERMANENT IS THE WORK TIME. But a man cannot permanently work unless he secures his transitory reliefs. The restings of life are not idlings or wastings. Transfiguration means soul preparations for Calvary.
IV. THE TRANSITORY IS THE TRIUMPH TIME; THE PERMANENT IS THE SUFFERING TIME. What makes life so hard is that successes are so brief. Right upon them we have to be down in the valleys of toil and suffering.—R.T.