Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadQuiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Life After Death: 26. The Transfiguration
TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Life After Death (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 26. The Transfiguration
Other Subjects in this Topic:
The Transfiguration
We turn now to the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. And we are not concerned just now with its significance. We simply take note of certain incidental facts in the account.
It is put down as a fact that Moses and Elijah were there. Moses had died, something like fifteen hundred years before. Elijah had not died but had disappeared from human view, up-ward, through the upper blue, something like eight hundred years before. Now both men are plainly seen. Then it is clear that they had been living all that time somewhere else than on the earth.
Their identity was quite clear. The three disciples recognized them at once to be Moses and Elijah. It seems quite unnecessary to say that of course Moses and Elijah recognized each other. They were in closest sympathetic touch with Jesus, His purposes and plans. They knew beforehand what would happen to Jesus at Jerusalem.
There was perfect repose of spirit on their part; no distress, no agonizing. They were perfectly at themselves. Their intelligence was fully on the level they had known and shown in their early lives. Their grasp of the great events being worked out by Jesus' errand to the earth, seems quite full and complete. That is, their outlook takes in events of earth, their connection with the upper world, and it takes in future events.
Clearly they were in full touch of understanding with the great purpose of Christ in going to Calvary, though nobody on earth seemed to understand. They saw things on earth from God's point of view. And they recognized that His plans would triumph. They talk of the decease that Jesus would "accomplish".
When the conversation was over they disappeared as they had come. Where did they go? Presumably back up where they had been. By mere inference where are they now? Clearly still living in full possession of their faculties, up in that spirit world where Christ joined them at His ascension.
And it would seem from other scripture (Mal_4:5-6) that Elijah has a bit of work to do down on the earth before things get straightened out down here. And that it will be the same sort of thing he did so boldly in Ahab's iniquitous day. He seems reserved for that sort of work, and that sort of time.
Evidently these two men are more, than when they were on earth. There is broader grasp, keener spirit perception, and clear knowledge of the way things will work out. Elijah has no use now for that coniferous juniper tree. He has been graduated from the juniper-tree course.
The two instances of Dorcas (Act_9:36-43), and of the young man at Troas (Act_20:7-12), give the same essential facts. They add emphasis to the others. Tremendous emphasis it is. This is indeed living testimony, irrefutable.
The resurrection of Jesus stands wholly by itself. The fact of His actual death stands in-disputable. At the core that's a physician's question. And the simple unlabored use of exact language gives the physician the essential in-formation. The spear thrust into His side brought out, not blood, but "blood and water." The separation in the fluid had taken place. That at once told that death had occurred.
I have no thought of gathering up here the detailed evidences of Jesus' resurrection. There is no point in repeating that. Many excellent summaries can be found in any good library or minister's study. Let it be enough just now to say this, with thoughtful measured words. There is no fact of common history better authenticated by reliable evidence than the resurrection of Jesus: This evidential material in the case, considered merely as, evidence, is complete and irrefutable. As much can be said for the several appearances of Jesus after the resurrection, and also for His ascension.
This could be called the greatest fact of all. It would be more accurate to say, the fact of greatest significance. Its meaning can be put in this way. Jesus' spirit was living while His body lay in the grave. Then His spirit re-entered His body. Again He moved among men as before, though clearly free of the limitations known before. He was recognized. His identity was quite clear. He was more afterwards than before. All limitations were gone. A new power lifting Him quite above common conditions was evident.
In plain sight of man He went up, body and all, up through the doorway of the blue above. He is alive. He is somewhere up. Some day He is coming back, the way He went, He said. What has already happened to Him of the sort involved makes it good inferential reasoning that He will do as He has said in this regard. For He is more now than before.