Luke 9:28-36 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.… Communion with God is a condition of spiritual elevation. I. NOTICE TWO OR THREE THINGS WITH REGARD TO SUCH ELEVATIONS. 1. They presuppose a somewhat advanced condition of the spiritual life. 2. They are fraught with the richest, keenest bliss. 3. They are given not merely for their own sake, but as means to important and practical ends. II. WHAT IS THE RELATION WHICH PRAYER SUSTAINS TO THESE ELEVATIONS? The evangelist evidently wishes us to understand that there was a connection between the Saviour's praying and His being transfigured, that in some way the one was the consequence and the out. come of the other. 1. Prayer draws us away from the presence of distracting objects. 2. Prayer relieves us from the pressure of worldly toil. 3. Prayer calls out the finer, better feelings of our nature. 4. Prayer opens to us all the treasures of God's own being. III. REFLECTIONS. 1. It is not necessary for our prayers to be consciously and intentionally directed towards this particular end. 2. Let us be thankful that such elevations are possible to us. 3. Let us show our thankfulness by putting ourselves constantly in that prayerful attitude which is the one chief condition of spiritual exaltation. (B. Wilkinson, F. G. S.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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