Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Who appeared in glory and spake [ elegon (G3004 ), rather, 'and were speaking'] of his decease, х teen (G3588) exodon (G1841) autou (G846)] - 'of His exodus;' 'His exit,' or 'His departure.' Beautiful euphemism (or softened expression) for death, which Peter, who witnessed the scene, uses in his second Epistle to express his own death, and the use of which single term seems to have recalled the whole scene by a sudden rush of recollection, which he accordingly describes in language of uncommon grandeur (2 Peter 1:15-18).
Which he should accomplish [ heen (G3739 ) eemellen (G3195 ) pleeroun (G4137 ), 'which He was going to fulfil'] at Jerusalem. Mark the historical and local character which Christ's death possessed in the eye of these glorified men, as vital as it is charming; and see the note at Luke 2:11. What now may be gathered from this statement? First, That a dying Messiah is the great article of the true Jewish theology. For a long time the Church had fallen clean away from the faith of this article, and even from a preparedness to receive it. But here we have that jewel brought forth from the heap of Jewish traditions, and by the true representatives of the Church of old made the one subject of talk with Christ Himself. Next, The adoring gratitude of glorified men for His undertaking to accomplish such a decease; their felt dependence upon it for the glory in which the appeared; their profound interest in the progress of it; their humble solaces and encouragements to go through with it; and their sense of its peerless and overwhelming glory.
'Go, matchless, adore One, a Lamb to the slaughter! rejected of men, but chosen of God and precious; dishonoured, abhorred and soon to be slain by men, but worshipped by cherubim, ready to be greeted by all heaven! In virtue of that decease we are here; our all is suspended on it and wrapt up in it. Thine every step is watched by us with ineffable interest; and though it were too high an honour to us to be permitted to drop a word of cheer into that precious but now clouded spirit, yet, as ourselves the first-fruits of harvest, the very joy set before Him, we cannot choose but tell Him that what, is the depth of shame to Him is covered with glory in the eyes of heaven, that the Cross to Him is the Crown to us, that that "decease" is all our salvation and all our desire.' And who can doubt that such a scene did minister deep cheer to that spirit? 'Tis said they "talked" not Him, but "with Him;" and if they told Him how glorious His decease was, might He not fitly reply, 'I know it all, but your voice, as messengers from heaven come down to tell it me, is music in mine ears.'