Mountain Tops

June 27

Read: Mark 9:2-13

Mountain Tops

We don’t get to live “on top of the mountain”. As much as we would like to permanently camp out in our “mountain top” experiences, it is simple not what is best. But there is something else that is true: the mountain top experiences change us… they transform us… they open our eyes to the wonder and mystery of the Lord.

Jesus picked his three favorites and went up to the top of a mountain. Once their they watched as Jesus was “transfigured” before them. He took on a new and different constitution. Even Jesus’ clothes changed in their appearance. The scriptures say: “his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” (v.3) In this transfigured state, Jesus met with Moses and Elijah. Who knows what they talked about… but Peter, James, and John just stood by and watched. They were terrified. They didn’t now what else to do. They recognized Moses and Elijah. This is an interesting side note because it shows us that even our souls apart from our bodies carry our identity… the soul of Moses without a body was still identifiable as Moses. (v.4,5) We do not lose our identity when we die.

In their terror and wonder, Peter cooks up a quick response: “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (v.5) Do you see how Peter responds? He is like, “Good thing you brought us with! We can build tents for you guys.” Peter said this because, “For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” (v.6) We have a tendency to start to scramble when we don’t know what to say… we get anxious and start looking for things to do… in this case, Peter assumed that Jesus would rather remain on top of the mountain with Moses and Elijah than come back down and be with the disciples and the crowds. This thinking put them in a “cloud”… literally. “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.” (v.7) Sometimes we have to be put into “the cloud” to stop us from scrambling for our own answers… running to our own assumptions and activities… and to be able to hear the voice of God.

Jesus did not want to stay on top of the mountain… no tent was needed. He knew that he had plenty of time ahead of him to hang out with Moses and Elijah. I am sure Jesus enjoyed the experience, but it was not his goal to stay on the mountain top… he had work to do among the people! This transformation / transfiguration was a foreshadowing of what was to come. I think it was also a comfort given to Jesus before he faced death. The Lord had him meet up with Moses and Elijah. Moses was a soul- had experienced death- and was still existing… still had identity. Elijah was no longer living in this world - in a way he was “dead” - but was still in a body… existing with God. The Lord was assuring Jesus that even though he was facing death, there was a resurrection coming and that it truly was possible to endure death as a soul, and to leave this earth and be present with God in a body (like Elijah). This mountain top experience comforted Jesus and prepared him for what was ahead of him… the cross.

None of wha happened on top of the mountain was going to be useful for the masses until after Jesus had raised from the dead. (v.9) This is another reason it seems like the experience was in some way related to what was coming for Jesus. Peter, James, and John were still hung up on the idea of Jesus dying - let alone the idea he was going to “raise from the dead”. (v.10) The mountain top experienced created as many questions as it answered! When they got back down to the bottom… they couldn’t tell anybody what happened. The truth is that they wouldn’t understand anyways. This is part of the hurdle with “mountain top experiences” … we want to share them with people but we can’t… they are not easily transferable to others… really they have to have them for themselves! Hence, we often say “you just had to be there.”

What are some take aways for us today? We don’t get to live on top of the mountain… but the mountain top prepares us for life down below. It wasn’t Jesus’’ plan to live on top of the mountain with Moses and Elijah… he didn’t want to camp out there; the disciples assumed he would want to stay there- but Jesus was committed to the mission and was walking back down with them. (Remember, Peter, James, and John were only going to build three tents… they would have been walking back down.) When we get scared and don’t know what to do, we have a tendency to scramble and try to build something on our own that seems like a good idea (like three tents for Jesus), but this taking matters into our own hands often misses the point and puts us into a “cloud”. The good news is that being in a “cloud” is sometimes the best place to hear the voice of God. Maybe one of the most profound take aways is that God transforms us… transfigures us… to prepare us for what lyes ahead in our lives. God is comforting us through his supernatural transformation of us and our interaction with others who have endured what we are facing (ie. Moses and Elijah)… he is getting us ready for our “cross”… for our mission that we are sent on. I am sure there are so many more from this unique passage. As always - feel free to share what stands out to you. Love you guys. - JDP