Holy reticence.
Some of those with whom our Lord had to do wrought much mischief by failing in wise reticence. Told to keep their secrets, they blazed abroad their matter, and created a public excitement which our Lord felt bound to avoid. Reserve is said to be the "bane of friendship;" but reserve may be a sign of wise self-control and skilful estimate of circumstances and responsibilities. Reticence must be distinguished from untruthfulness. We should always tell the truth, but it is often our duty to say nothing. This, however, sometimes becomes distressing, because of our fear that saying nothing will leave, or will sustain, a false impression. Here our Lord commanded reticence. The three apostles were not to talk to the rest of the apostolic company of what they had seen and heard. They were to say nothing whatever about it outside their company. Let us see what may make reticence appropriate, right, and wise.
I. RETICENCE RELATIVE TO PRIVACY. It cannot be too forcibly impressed that the Transfiguration is not an event in the public life of Jesus. It belongs to his private heart history and experience, and only for very special reasons is any report of it given. If we do come to know some great passage in a brother Christian's private experience, we properly keep the secret, at least so long as he lives. It would be bad for him, and bad for all who know him, if it were talked about. Much mischief is done, much bloom is taken off Christian life, by too great readiness to talk about what belongs to a man's private feeling. Jesus shrank from common talk about his transfiguration.
II. RETICENCE RELATIVE TO TIMELINESS. This is brought out by our Lord's limiting silence "until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." There are times and seasons foreverything. The wise man watches, and fits his ways to times; the impulsive man is always upsetting things by simple untimeliness. This was St. Peter's mistake, and our Lord may have designed the caution specially for him. Happy they who can keep silence till the time to speak!
III. RETICENCE RELATIVE TO CAPACITY. The narrative of the Transfiguration might have been given to the other apostles if they had been on a sufficiently high spiritual plane to have entered into it. But it is only too evident that they could not receive any references to our Lord's decease. The report of the vision, if then made, would only have bewildered them. Keep it back. Wait until the complete circle of historical facts relating to Christ is complete; then, maybe, they will see the meaning of the Transfiguration.—R.T.