Upon a Mountain

[Pastor Dan Howard]

This last Wednesday Study Service we examined one of the stranger and more powerful sections of the Bible: The Transfiguration of Christ. I am going to use the Luke account as found in Chapter 9 (ESV) It goes into a bit more detail.
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.  And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.  And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.  As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”  And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
There are a number of messages that can be drawn from this account; but what I want to focus on is the “where”. Jesus often goes to the mountains.
He preached the Beatitudes that started his ministry in the Sermon on the Mount.

He went to the mountain to pray after he heard about the death of his cousin John the Baptist.
He had the Transfiguration on the mountain, before His trip into Jerusalem to start Holy Week.
He was on the Mount of Olives after the institution of the Lords Supper.
He was crucified upon Mount Calvary.
He ascended into heaven from a mountain.

 

Mountains play a big role in the Bible.
The ark came to rest upon a mountain after the flood.
Abraham’s faith was challenged by God when he brought Isaac to the mountain.
Moses received the Law and even saw the Promised Land from a mountain.
Joshua renewed the Covenant between God and his people on mount Ebal
A Mountain sheltered David from Saul
Elijah defeated the false prophets of Baal on a mountain, and later spoke to God outside a cave.
Jerusalem was built upon a mountain.

 

It is said that God comes to us on the mountains. It’s easy to see why we think that. The view from a mountain can be breath taking.  It is understandable to see why God choose to make his presence known in these places. Yet we are talking about the Transfiguration. It is a moment where it is very clear that Jesus was more than just sent by God. He does more than just speak for God. We must acknowledge Jesus IS God. Upon that mountain he spoke with Moses who was given the Law that bears witness to our sins, and Elijah, the foremost of the prophets that spoke of God’s deliverance.  Upon that mountain God affirmed His desire to continue the plan for mankind’s salvation. But just as God came down from Heaven, Jesus to would leave that mountain top and move on to the mount of suffering ahead. Willingly, with full knowledge of what is to happen. Philippians 2:6-11 makes it clear that although he is God, Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” In this account we get a glimpse of the glory that Jesus laid aside for us. 

We like Peter would say “it is good to be here, let’s stay.” Yet God’s plan is more than a mountain top. God was not content upon a mountain without his people. He came down from Heaven because you (separated by your sin) were not there with Him.   He set aside His glory and His power, and like a good shepherd, like a loving father, He went to His charges. He chased after that which he loved. He came down from that mountain for you. God’s response to “It is good to be here” is literally “Only if you are here too.”

That’s a powerful statement of love.

That’s the power of the Gospel.

 

Transfigured by His Love
-Pastor Dan