mself never
satisfied our Lord and so he asked pointedly: "But who say ye that I am?
And Peter answering said, The Christ of God." This is the great
affirmation concerning Christ which the world to-day needs to hear; but at
that time Jesus earnestly commanded his disciples to "tell this to no
man." The message would then have been misunderstood and the disciples
themselves needed first to learn the truth concerning the death and
resurrection of Jesus. No man to-day is qualified to testify for Christ
who does not know the meaning of his atoning death and "the power of his
resurrection."

Then Jesus told his disciples of the absolute necessity of his approaching
sufferings and assured them that on the third day he would be raised up.
This prediction of death must have astonished the disciples; quite as
surprising was the further statement that every follower of Christ must
likewise take up his cross daily, and the cross was not merely a symbol of
suffering and shame; it was the instrument of death. Every Christian,
therefore, must die daily to self and yield himself wholly to the service
of Christ. Such self-denial and sacrifice and obedience will result in the
only experience worthy of the name "life;" to refuse is to forfeit "life;"
and the loss will be eternal for those who are ashamed to follow the
Master now will be rejected by him when he returns "in his own glory, and
the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels." Of this future glory of
the coming Christ, three of the disciples were to catch a foregleam only
eight days later on the Mount of Transfiguration, and Jesus therefore
adds, "There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste
of death, till they see the kingdom of God."

4. The Transfiguration. Ch. 9:28-36

28 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that
he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the
mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the fashion of his
countenance was altered, and his raiment _became_ white _and_
dazzling. 30 And behold, there talked with him two men, who were
Moses and Elijah; 31 who appeared in glory, and spake of his
decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now
Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: but when
they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that
stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they were parting from
h