Luke 9:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And spake of his decease— His εξοδος, or exit, which he was shortly to complete at Jerusalem. See 2 Peter 1:15 and Wis 3:2. It is well observed by St. Chrysostom, that our Lord never spoke of his passion but immediately before or after some great miracle; and here we may observe, that in the midst of his wonderful transfiguration the two saints speak of his passion. A strange opportunity, in his highest exaltation, to speak of his sufferings! to talk of Calvary on Tabor! when his head shone with glory,to tell him how it must bleed with thorns! when his face shone like the sun, to tellhim how it must be defiled with spitting! when his garments glittered with that celestial brightness, to tell him how they must be stripped off and divided! when he was seen between two saints, to tell him how he must be seen between two malefactors! In a word, in the midst of his divine majesty, to tell him of his shame! and while he was trans-figured on the mount, to tell him how he must be disfigured upon the cross! Yet these two heavenly prophets found this the fittest time for such discourse, choosing to speak of his sufferings in the height of his glory. It is most seasonable in our best, to think of our worst estate; for both that thought will he best digested, when we are well; and that change will be best prepared for, when we are the furthest from it. See the Inferences on Mark 9.