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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
The entire night had been passed in the mountain, and as the sun
rose and chased away the shadows with its cheering rays, Jesus and his
disciples descended the mountain. Gladly would they have lingered
in that holy place which had been touched with the glory of Heaven,
and where the Son of God had been transfigured before the eyes of
his disciples; but there was work to be done for the people who were
already searching far and near for Jesus.
At the foot of the mountain a large crowd had gathered, led there by
the disciples who had remained behind, and who knew of the favorite
resorts of Jesus for meditation and prayer. As they approached the
waiting multitude, Jesus charged his disciples to keep secret what they
had witnessed, saying, “Tell the vision to no man until the Son of
Man be risen again from the dead.” Jesus knew that neither the people
nor the disciples who had led them to the place, were prepared to
appreciate or understand the wonderful event of the transfiguration
upon the mount. After his resurrection, the testimony of those who
had witnessed it, was to be given to substantiate the fact that he was
indeed the Son of God.
Now the three chosen disciples have evidence which they cannot
doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah. A voice from the excellent
glory has declared his divinity. Now they are strengthened to endure
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the humiliation and crucifixion of their Lord. The patient Teacher, the
meek and lowly One, who, for nearly three years, has wandered to and
fro, from city to city, a Man of sorrows, homeless, having no place to
rest, no bed upon which to stretch his weary form at night, has been
acknowledged by the voice of God as his Son, and Moses and Elijah,
glorious ones in the courts of Heaven, have paid him homage. The
favored disciples can doubt no longer. They have seen with their eyes,
and heard with their ears, things that are beyond the comprehension of
man.
Jesus now returned to his work of ministering to the people. As
the throng caught sight of the Saviour, they ran to meet him, greeting
him with much reverence. But he perceived that they were in great
perplexity. This was because of a circumstance that had just transpired:
A man had brought his son to the disciples to be delivered of a dumb
spirit that tormented him exceedingly. But the disciples had been
unable to relieve him, and therefore the scribes had seized upon this
opportunity to dise with them as to their power of working miracles.