130

Christ cautions his Disciples.

and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the

town.

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the coasts and towns of Cæsarea Philippi : and by the way it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they answered and said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, Jeremias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said unto him, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Then he straitly charged them, and commanded his disciples

I

Christ foretells his Resurrection.

131

that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ".

Christ plainly foretells his Sufferings and Resurrection, rebukes Peter, and exhorts all to Self-denial.

AND from that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that the Son of man must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of

men.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake

and the gospel's, the

9 Matt. xvi. 13-20. Mark viii. 22-30. Luke ix.

18-21.

132

Christ is Transfigured:

same shall save it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or be cast away? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and with the holy angels. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power, and the Son of man coming in his kingdom'.

Christ is Transfigured: his Discourse with his Disciples on the occasion.

AND it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves to pray. And as he prayed, he was transfigured before them, and the fashion of his countenance was

1 Matt. xvi. 21-28. Mark viii. 31—ix. 1. Luke ix. 22—27.

his Discourse with his Disciples.

133

altered, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became shining and glistering, exceeding white as snow, or as the light; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said; for he wist not what to say, for they were sore afraid. While he yet thus spake, behold, there came a bright cloud that overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And behold, there came a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And when the voice was past, Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And suddenly when they had lifted up their eyes,

134 Christ casts out a Deaf and Dumb Spirit. and had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is indeed come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer many things of them, and be set at nought, as it is written of him. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist 2.

Christ casts out a Deaf and Dumb Spirit. AND it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And when he came to

2 Matt. xvii. 1-13.

28--36.

Mark ix. 2-13. Luke ix.