THE TRANSFIGURATION
[Sidenote: St. Mark 9]
AND after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John,
and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and
he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining,
exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And
there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with
Jesus. And Peter answered and said to 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. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and
a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear
him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man
any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from
the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things
they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they
kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the
rising from the dead should mean.
[Illustration: THE TRANSFIGURATION, BY RAPHAEL
IN THE VATICAN, ROME]
And when he came to his disciples, 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 one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought
unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh
him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and
pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him
out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O 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 ofttimes it hath cast
him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou
canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said
unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth. 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 he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked
him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them,
This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not
that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto
them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall
kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But
they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.