the vision came a divine injunction to hear him who now was superseding law and prophets.  The effect of the transfiguration can only be inferred.  It doubtless brought strengthening to Jesus for his difficult task (compare Heb. v. 7), and at least a silencing of remonstrance when he spoke again to his disciples of his approaching death.  This he did while the little company was making its way back towards Capernaum (Mark ix. 30-32), and repeatedly later before the end came (Mark x. 32-34; Matt. xxvi. 1f.).

161.  On Jesus’ return from the mountain, he was met by the despairing plea of a father and healed his epileptic son, out of whom the disciples were unable to cast the demon (Mark ix. 14-29; compare vi. 7, 13).  It may have been the shock which the new lesson had given the disciples that accounted for the reproof of their lack of faith.  The new evidence of Jesus’ power, coupled with this reproof, seems to have restored their confidence in him.  Perhaps, too, there was something contagious about the spirit of hope with which the three came from their vision of the Master’s glory.  For, although they were not free to tell what they had seen (Mark ix. 9), they could not have concealed the fact that their faith had received great encouragement.  Whatever the cause, hope revived for the disciples, for on the way back to Capernaum a dispute arose among them concerning personal precedence in the kingdom which their Master should soon set up.  In this rapid reaction from unbelief to faith the disciples seem to have forgotten the lesson of self-denial recently given them (Mark viii. 34, 35).  In Peter’s confession the corner-stone of the church was laid; but the superstructure was yet far out of sight.  Although his own soul, taking its way down into the valley of shadows, might rightly have asked for sympathy and complained of its lack, Jesus simply set a little child in the midst of them, and taught them again the first lessons of faith,—­gentle humility and trust.  Thereby he rebuked the spirit of rivalry and asked of his disciples a generous, unselfish, and forgiving spirit (Matt, xviii. 1-35).

162.  It was possibly at this time, certainly near the end of the Galilean ministry, that Jesus was approached by his own brethren, who urged him to try to win the capital.  Their attitude was not one of indifference, though clearly not one of actual faith in his claim (John vii. 2-5).  They seem to have felt that Jesus had not made adequate effort to secure a following in Jerusalem, and that he could not hope for success in his work if he continued to confine his attention to Galilee.  Jesus knew conditions in Jerusalem far better than they did, and had no idea as yet of resuming a general ministry there.  He therefore dismissed the suggestion, and left his brethren to go up to the feast disappointed in their desire that he make a demonstration at that time.  Yet Jesus still yearned over Jerusalem.  He knew in what organized opposition a general demonstration