Back to the Mountaintop – February 27, 2022 – Transfiguration

Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36
February 27, 2022, Transfiguration

Last week we started with Jesus on the mountaintop.  He had gone there to find solitude and to have a “spiritual connection.”  Luke tells us, “He went to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12).  From there he came down to that level place where he could look out over the crowds and speak to them, saying, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” That was the story last week, “The Sermon on the Mount.”

This week he’s back to the mountaintop, and I think for similar reasons.  It’s now further along in his ministry, and he would often go back to the mountaintop to seek that solitude and spiritual connection.

If you’ve ever been to the top of a mountain, you know it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe.  I remember the first time I climbed a mountain.  It was Mount Baldy in New Mexico at the Philmont Scout Ranch.  I looked it up the other day, and I found that it was only 12,500 feet, which is not all that high as the Rockies go, but I’ll never forget how tough it was!  The air was thin, and I could feel it sapping my strength as we got closer to the summit!  I remember taking a few steps and then stopping to rest!  I didn’t know it was going to be that hard!  They said, “Hey, we’re climbing a mountain today.”  And I said, “Ok!”

But if you’ve done that, you know that when you reach the top, it’s amazing!  You feel like you’re on the top of the world!  It’s like you’re looking down on the world the way God does.  I know it’s not a simple as that, but it feels like it!  I’ve climbed several other mountains over the years.  And it always feels the same!  I think that’s one of the reasons I like skiing.  It’s put me on many mountaintops over the years!

I think it’s no coincidence that Jesus chose the mountain as a place of spiritual connection.  And he wasn’t the only one.  Moses was on the mountaintop when he experienced God.  The Ten Commandments – the Torah – was given on the mountaintop.  We read some of Moses’ story today! We read the part where his spiritual connection with God was so great that, when he came back down to the people, his face shown with a heavenly glow!

So, now Jesus was back to the mountaintop.  But this time he wasn’t alone.  This time his own solitude and spiritual connection wasn’t the only reason he was there.This time he went for the sake of his disciples.  He took them there for their spiritual benefit.  And this time it was more than just being on the mountain.  While they were there, Jesus underwent this spiritual transformation.  His whole appearance took on a heavenly glow that was reminiscent of Moses.  And I’m sure they knew that story!

This is the story of the Transfiguration.  And this is an important story in the ministry of Jesus.  It was marked with another “theophany” – another “appearance of God.”  The last time that happened was at Jesus’ baptism.  Then, the spirit descended on Jesus in the form of the dove.  This time, there was Jesus’ transformation, there was a cloud overshadowing them, and they heard again the voice of God.  But this time, that voice was directed at those disciples.  At his baptism God said, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”  This time he said to them specifically, “This is my beloved son, listen to him!”  They had been listening to him, of course.  But this was a confirmation of Jesus’ ministry.  Listen to him, because his words are true!  His words are my words!

The other part of this story is also a big thing!  As Jesus is “transfigured,” he’s joined by Moses and Elijah.  And they “appeared in glory,” too!  Keep in mind that Moses and Elijah were considered to be the greatest of the patriarchs and the greatest of the prophets.  And isn’t it interesting that Jesus didn’t have to introduce them to the disciples.  “Hey guys, this is Moses and Elijah!”  They knew!  And it had to have been incredible for them!

Add to that something Luke tells us, that the other Gospel writers don’t.  If you’re familiar with Luke’s version, you know that he tells us what these three important guys were talking about.  “They spoke of his departure which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.”  Do you get that?  It wasn’t Jesus speaking of the greatness of these two famous guys.  It was them talking about his greatness!  What does that say about him?!  And that, too, was not lost on these disciples!

Those men, Peter, James, and John were important players in this story.  And this was an important “mountaintop experience” for them!  And I think they needed it!  We often think of Jesus’ disciples as people who “had it all together” spiritually.  After all, they were the great leaders of the church!  They had statues made of them and churches named for them all over the world.

But that was later.  This was now!  And, as all this was happening to them, and I’m sure they had their doubts.  I’m sure they had their times of uncertainty.  I’m sure they heard Jesus say some things that were uncomfortable, and they felt “nervous” about what he was saying.  And I’m sure they needed this experience!  They needed this time of assurance, when they could know that they were following the right person.  And so do we.

We can have that assurance.  We can look back at this story and see it as an important story – an important proof as to who Jesus was and is.  God himself said, “This is my beloved son!”  We can read about this mountaintop experience, and it can be a mountaintop experience for us.  And we can think about the mountaintop experiences in our lives, times when our spirits were raised, and our faith renewed.

We’ve all had our mountaintop experiences, haven’t we?  We’ve all had our own personal history that has brought us to this time and place.  And I think it’s important that we remember that!  It’s good for us to look back and to see how God has brought us to where we are in our lives.

But it’s got to be more than just remembering – great though that is!  We need to continue.  We need to “keep on keeping on!” as the expression goes.  And as we do so, I think we need to seek to go back to the mountaintop.  We need to search for new spiritual connections with God, like Jesus did!

Sometimes I’ve heard people say they haven’t experienced that connection.  They’ve questioned whether God was real and if he was speaking to them.  They’ve wondered how they could know what his will for them is.  And when I hear those things, my first reaction is to ask, “Are you doing anything to seek that experience?”  “Are you doing anything to put yourself in a position where God can speak to you – and you can hear?

God said through Jeremiah, “You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me, and you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

It’s about to be Lent.  That starts this week.  And Lent is a real good time to think about that connection with God, and to think about renewing it.  Lent is a time of introspection.  A time to seek God, as Jeremiah said, “with all our hearts.”

As you think about that, I’d like to close with something we’ll be reading on Wednesday as part of the Ash Wednesday service.  I think this speaks well about this time of year, and how we seek to make that spiritual connection with God.  This is called:

An Invitation to Observe a Holy Lent

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation. During this season, converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins, and had separated themselves from the community of faith, were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent:

         By self-examination and repentance;
         By prayer, fasting, and self-denial;
         And by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.

To make a right beginning or repentance, and as a mark or our mortal nature, let us now come before our Creator and Redeemer.

Prayer

Eternal God, we need to hear your still, small voice in our lives.  We need to find that connection with you once again.  Help us to be still ourselves, to know that you are God, as the psalmist said.  Help us to seek you with all of our hearts.  For we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.