The Great Decision and Transfiguration of Jesus.

This is an excerpt from the book, "How to Become Like Christ," by Marcus Dods.

On earth Jesus (when he spoke of his death) had found incredulity among his best friends; incapacity to see why he should die; indifference to his object here. He now meets with those (Moses and Elijah) who, with breathless interest, await his death as if it were the one only future event.

In their persons Jesus sees, at one view, all who had put their trust in God from the foundation of the world; all who had put faith in a sacrifice for sin, knowing it was God's appointment, and that he would vindicate his own wisdom and truth by finding a real propitiation (atoning sacrifice); all who, through dark and troubled times, had strained to see the consolation of Israel; all who, in their misery of their own thought, had still believed that there was a true glory for men somewhere to be attained; all who through the darkness and storm and fear of earth had trusted in God, scarcely daring to think what would become of their trust, but assured that God had spoken, nay, had covenanted with his people, and finding true rest in him.

The whole anxiety of guilty consciences, the whole hope of men awakened, the whole longing sigh for a God revealed, that had breathed from the ancient church, at once became audible to Jesus' ear. At once he felt the dependence of all who had died in faith in the promise. He meets the eager, questioning gaze of all who had hoped for salvation concentrated on himself. It this he who can save the lost, he who can bear the weight of a world's dependence? What an appeal there is here to his compassion! How steadfastly now does he set his face towards Jerusalem, felling straitened till the world's salvation is secured and all possibility of failure forever at an end. This was for Jesus an appeal that was irresistible...He saw that he must die. Now, he yields himself to the will of the Father.

Those are the supreme moments in human life when man, through sore conflict and at great cost, gives himself up to the will of God. Never was there so sore a conflict and never so much joy as here. His face was transfigured; it beamed with the light and peace of heaven that shone from within. It was at the moment of his yielding all to God that Jesus attained his highest glory.

It is on the cross that Jesus is truly enthroned. It is because he became the Servant of all that he is greatest of all. He gave himself for us, willing to do all to save us in our direst need, that he takes a place in our confidence and in our heart that belongs to no other. He becomes the one absolute need of every man, because he is that which brings us to God and gives God to us.