"No One, Save Jesus Only" (Matthew 17. 8)

by Jarvis, A. G. | Category: General | Dec 1962

The transfiguration of Christ was one of the great events in the lives of Peter, James and John. Up till that time He had been veiled even to His closest followers. But on the "holy mount" they had a glorious unveiling of Him, which they would never forget. The heavenly witness, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," reinforced the glorious witness of those shining garments, and that face of heavenly radiance.

Moses and Elijah are the typical representatives of the Law and the Prophets. They "spake of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9. 31). Previously they had spoken of that same supreme event in type, and shadow, and prophecy. Now the moment of fulfilment draws near, and these great servants of the Lord are privileged to speak, both of and to Him.

The effect of this revelation was the same as that upon John, much later in the Isle of Patmos, but the same hand, in all its reassurance, is laid upon them, and then they saw no one,

SAVE JESUS ONLY.

"Jesus only" should be the watchword of the present, as well as the record of the past. For salvation or for service the vision of Himself is vital.

The needy crowds awaited Him and them at the mountain foot, and from that scene of heavenly glory they came down with hands full of blessing for the sin-stricken hearts and the disease-ridden bodies of men and women.

So today, those who have the unspeakable privilege of beholding the beauty of the Lord, as it is written, "Ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God ... and to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12. 22-24), should carry out from such a presence, something of Himself. "Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us" (Psalm 90.17).

Like Moses, whose "face shone by reason of his speaking with Him," though he wist not that it shone.

The world's need is still the same as it was in the days of Christ, or the days of Moses. It needs men who have been in communion with Christ and with God, men who have "been with Jesus" and who, because they "see no one, save Jesus only," have only One of whom to speak, even as He said:

" Ye shall bear witness of Me."

Jarvis, A. G. | Dec 1962
General