2 "whom say ye that I am?" and Simon Peter answered and said, 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 hea" ven. And I say also unto thee, That thou "art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my "church; and the gates of hell shall not pre"vail 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 charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. c e d 74. Jesus plainly foretels his Sufferings and Resurrection, rebukes Peter, and exhorts all to self-denial. FROM that, time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that " The Son of man " must suffer many things, and be rejected of * Bar, i. e. Son of Jona. ► No human creature hath revealed this to thee, but God only. Peter signifies a rock. Upon the doctrines of Christ which he was to preach in common with the rest of the Apostles, shall the church be built, with such stability as never to be destroyed; and the gates of Hades, or the intermediate state of the dead shall not prevail against the succession of its members. ▲ The power of opening the door, and admitting disciples into the kingdom or church of Christ. • Till after his resurrection, lest the Jews should put him to death before his time. " the elders and chief priests and scribes, and " be slain, and be raised the third day." And he spake that saying openly. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, "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." وو And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, "Who"soever will come after me, let him deny him"self, 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 same shall save it. " For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain "the whole world, and lose his own soul? 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 cometh in the glory of " his Father, with the holy angels." 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 " have seen the kingdom of God come with "power."" * Get out of my sight thou Satan or tempter, who mistakest the design of my coming, as if it were to establish a temporal, and not a spiritual kingdom. ► The gospel of Christ wonderfully spread and prosper. 75. Jesus' Transfiguration: his Discourse with the three Disciples as they were descending from the mountain. a AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And he was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 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 let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold 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 Jesus came, a 1 C By the transfiguration our Lord was pleased to exhibit a specimen of his future resurrection to these three Apostles. Moses being the giver of the law, and Elijah the greatest of the prophets, intimated by their discoursing with Christ, that the Law and the Prophets should be completed in him. • He knew not what he said, through mingled emotions of fear and joy. and touched them, and said, "Arise, and bo " not afraid." And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 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, 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 Jesus answered and said unto them, " Elias " truly shall first come, and restore all things. "But I say unto you, That Elias is come " already, and they knew him not, but have " done unto him whatsoever they listed. Like" wise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.* : 76. Jesus casts out a dumb and deaf Spirit. AND when he came to his disciples on the next day, he saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, "What " question ye with them?" and there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and : • Who was the Elias or forerunner of Christ, whom they have put to death, as they will put Christ to death. ► Amazed at some remainder of the glory of his transfiguration yet visible on his countenance. a saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, (for he is mine only child :) for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for oft-tines he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast hin out; and they could not. He answereth him and saith, " faithless generation, how long " shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer "you? bring him unto me." And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed, foaming. And he asked his father, "How long is it ago since this "came unto him?" and he said, Of a child. And oft-times it hath east him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, " If thou canst " believe, all things are possible to him that be"lieveth." And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, “Thou "dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come " out of him, and enter no more into him." And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and deli vered him again to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. And * This is said to the disciples only. |