preparation for, His Transfiguration. Truly, He stood on Hermon. It was the highest
ascent, the widest prospect into the past, present, and future, in His Earthly Life. Yet
was it but Hermon at night. And this is the human, or rather the Theanthropic view of
this prayer, and of its consequence.
9. 2 Kings vi. 16, 17.
As we understand it, the prayer with them had ceased, or it had merged into silent
prayer of each, or Jesus now prayed alone and apart, when what gives this scene such
a truly human and truthful aspect ensued. It was but natural for these men of simple
habits, at night, and after the long ascent, and in the strong mountain-air, to be heavy
with sleep. And we also know it as a psychological fact, that, in quick reaction after the
overpowering influence of the strongest emotions, drowsiness would creep over their
limbs and senses. 'They were heavy - weighted - with sleep,' as afterwards at
Gethsemane their eyes were weighted.10 11 Yet they struggled with it, and it is quite
consistent with experience, that they should continue in that state of semi-stupor, during
what passed between Moses and Elijah and Christ, and also be 'fully awake,'12 'to see
His Glory, and the two men who stood with Him.' In any case this descriptive trait, so far
from being (as negative critics would have it), a 'later e mbellishment,' could only have
formed part of a primitive account, since it is impossible to conceive any rational motive
for its later addition.13
10. St. Matt. xxvi. 43; St. Mark xiv. 40.
11. The word is the same. It also occurs in a figurative sense in 2 Cor. i. 8; v. 4; 1 Tim. v.
16.
12. Meyer strongly advocates the rendering: 'but having kept awake.' See, however,
Godet's remarks ad loc.
13. Meyer is in error in supposing that the tradition, on which St. Luke's account is
founded, amplifies the narratives of St. Matthew and St. Mark. With Canon Cook I incline
to the view of Resch, that, judging from the style, &c., St. Luke derived this notice from
the same source as the materials for the large portion from ch. ix. 51 to xviii. 17.
What they saw was their Master, while praying, 'transformed.'14 The 'form of God' shone
through the 'form of a servant;' 'the appearance of His Face became other,'15 16 it 'did
shine as the sun.'17 18 Nay, the whole Figure seemed bathed in light, the very garments
whiter far than the snow on which the moon shone 19 - 'so as no fuller on earth can white
them,'20 'glittering,'21 'white as the light.' And more than this they saw and heard. They
saw 'with Him two men,'22 whom, in their heightened sensitiveness to spiritual
phenomena, they could have no difficulty in recognising, by such of their conversation
as they heard, as Moses and Elijah.23 The column was now complete: the base in the
Law; the shaft in that Prophetism of which Elijah was the great Representative - in his
first Mission, as fulfilling the primary object of the Prophets: to call Israel back to God;
and, in his second Mission, this other aspect of the Prophets' work, to prepare the way
for the Kingdom of God; and the apex in Christ Himself - a unity completely fi tting
together in all its parts. And they heard also, that they spake of 'His Exodus - outgoing -