The Re-appearance of the Departed.
I. The Church, perfected and triumphant; the Church, expectant still, in their quiet resting-places; and the Church travailing, conflicting here, in the battlefield of this lower world were all one upon that holy mount. And they all gathered round the same Christ the Friend of all, the Saviour of all, the Lord of all. He was the Spring from which all came. He was the End to which all tended. They all combined to make His kingdom.
II. If we pass from the persons to their appearance, we are immediately baffled by the unearthliness of the scene to which we are admitted. Only three things occur to notice. (1) The Transfiguration left everything the same. It was Christ's own form; it was Christ's own face; the very garments appear to have been the same; only all the figure, the countenance, the dress became lovely and lustrous. And so with the two sainted ones from the other worlds they were recognisable in a moment; and all we read of their appearance is, that they "appeared in a glory," which probably means that they were like their Lord exceeding white and brilliant. (2) What was the character of the heavenly appearance? Twofold partly physical, partly spiritual. Some from within, some from without. Who can doubt that that sun-like brightness was the beaming of the moral effulgence of the Divine nature, the holiness, the wisdom, the love, the power of God, all radiating there, and making that flood of glory so intense, that flesh and blood could not look upon it. (3) It is interesting to inquire, What was the subject which occupied the thoughts of that heavenly assembly, when they met in that sweet society? St. Luke only answers the question. They talked of Christ's exoduswhich He should accomplish at Jerusalem. Notice the place which the sufferings, and Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus making His exodus held in the minds of the saints. It was their only topic. No wonder! it is the central truth of the whole system that truth of truths, without which nothing else in the world is true indeed.
J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,4th series, p. 218.
References: Luke 9:29. H. Wonnacott, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiv., p. 115; E. D. Solomon, Ibid.,vol. xxviii., p. 133.Luke 9:29-31. Church of England Pulpit,vol. x., p. 505; T. M. Herbert, Sketches of Sermons,p. 113.Luke 9:29-37. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxv., p. 388. Luke 9:30; Luke 9:31. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 193; Homilist,new series, vol. i., p. 251; W. M. Taylor, Elijah the Prophet,p. 222.Luke 9:32. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 236. Luke 9:34. J. Keble, Sermons from Lent to Passiontide,p. 1; Parker, Hidden Springs,p. 359; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iv., p. 273.Luke 9:34; Luke 9:35. W. T. Bull, Christian World Pulpit,vol. i., p. 523.Luke 9:35. A. Barry, Cheltenham College Sermons,p. 256. Luke 9:36. Homiletic Magazine,vol. vii., p. 80. Luke 9:37-42. Ibid.,vol. xiii., p. 19. Luke 9:37-45. Preacher's Monthly,vol. in., p. 344.Luke 9:38-42. G. Macdonald, The Miracles of Our Lord,p. 173.Luke 9:42. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ii., No. 100; vol. xxix., No. 1746. Luke 9:45. R. Duckworth, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxx., p. 232.Luke 9:49; Luke 9:50. Phillips Brooks, Ibid.,vol. xxxi., p. 277. Luke 9:49-62. F. D. Maurice, The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven,p. 160. Luke 9:53-62. G. Dawson, The Authentic Gospel,p. 131.Luke 9:54-56. Homilist,new series, vol. vi., p. 416.