In chapter (8:31) we find that the disciples were adjusting to the shock, and the explanation that Jesus would suffer countless agonizing pain, the texted revealed that he would be rejected crucified and be put to death, but ultimately he would rise again.
However, beyond all of the issues that he was facing yet he was calling them too completely commitment to self-denial, and total obedience. But at in the same time in chapter 9 and verse 1, He articulates to the gathered multitude that some of them will not die before they see the Kingdom of God. After sharing this declaration with them, He takes his inner circle Peter James and John up to the mountain, where they will have an experience standing on top of the world with the one that holds the whole world in his hands.
Life would be so amazing, if all we had was mountaintop experiences. But the facts are that, life is not filled with just sunny days on the mountain. The truth is that many of our days are filled with valley pitfalls. But, it is from the peak of mountains that we receive the power to live to fight another day. It is from the mountain that we gain our strength to hold on just a little while longer. It is from the mountain where our help come from.
And I know that we all have had some good days, and some bad days, I know that we have had some healthy days, and some sick days, I know that problems after problem has showed up. If it wasn't corona, it was sickness and death. If it wasn’t sickness and death it was an icy day and rolling back-outs, mixed with snow and rain without lights and water.
But what I love about our God is that He also allows us to experience a few mountaintop spiritual experiences along the way, so that we can see His glory, His power, and his brilliances.
As we visit the text of Mark, he says to them something that is heart felt, he says "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some of you standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."
Then he says in the next verse “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, so as no fuller on earth can white them” which means there were no cleaners or laundry mat, on earth that could ever clean them like this.
And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" for he wist not what to say, which means he didn’t know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And while he was talking, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
So, as we look at the text the point of the text is, to see the reason of mountain-top experience in chapter 9 it says Jesus said “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not experience death, taste death, or even see death until they see the kingdom of God. He was sharing with the three disciples who would travel with him up the mountain that they would literally see the glory of the Kingdom.
And we know this because in the second verse Mark tells it us that, “Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up to a high mountain.” And not all of the disciples had this same experience; only those that would needed it the most. Well Spies why did these three get picked?
Well Peter needed it because he would become the orator, the presenter, or the spokesman for the group, John the apostle needed it because he would live for and extended amount time the longest and James needed it because he was the first disciple to be a martyr.
Now Mark tells us that Jesus “led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves.” The scripture does not tell us which mountain, but some of the analysts believed it to be Mt Tabor, but other thought it is more probable that it was Mt. Hermon, because it was the highest mountain in the whole province.
But whichever mountain it was, we know that it was a place that was secluded, private and unobtrusive; it was a place where they could spend close time with God. and what I have found out is, there are sometimes when we need to hear from the Lord, there are times when we need to get a Word from the Lord, there are sometimes when we need to seek the Lord in private, a place of separation, for preparation, to get ready for the operation that God has planned for our lives. I believe that the reason we don’t experience hilltop experiences anymore is because we settle for too many valley practices. We do not set aside any time for us to be with God. Our days are too cloudy with day to day activities.
Look at what happened. Luke 9:28 he tells us that Jesus began to pray when they arrived at the top of the mountain. The first thing he does is he pray. And I want to tell somebody this morning, don’t used prayer for a spare, used prayer first. Make prayer your first choice, your first option. The first thing that Jesus does is pray. And I believe that the Lord and his disciples went to this private place for prayer, rest and teaching. This was the reason for the from the mountain visit.
Secondly, we need to see the Elation, the pleasure, and the delight of mountain experiences. On the mountain they got the chance to see him transfigured. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, whiter than they had ever experienced before. The bible said that while they were there, Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and may I tell someone here this morning that whenever you are with Jesus, then you ought to proclaim the phrase that it is good to be here. Because any time we get a chance to spend time with Jesus, we ought to know that it’s good to be here.
The bible says while he was speaking he said, let us make three tabernacles: Lord one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah", the bible said that he said that, because he did not know what else to say, for they were greatly afraid.
While they were standing there a cloud came and overshadowed
them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son. Hear Him!" and suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.”
When Luke tells the story, he tells us that the disciples are weary after the climb up the mount and evidently as Jesus prayed they went asleep. And when they woke up it was to a very remarkable and dreamlike sight before their eyes.
Jesus is transfigured before them, Mark says and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, so as no fuller, or detergent could clean it on earth. It was whiter than Comet, Martin, or A1 cleaners could ever clean it. I heard that, Snow-White cleaners is one of the best cleaners but it was better than a snow white job.
And the reason that His clothes became brilliant white is from the light that emanated, that stemmed and radiated from His body, because remember the was the light of the world.
Watch this. The bible says he was transfigured. The word transfigured is translated from the word that we get metamorphosis from. When the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured it means he became on the outside what he was on the inside. For a brief moment the veil of his humanity was lifted and his true essence was allowed to shine through. The glory which was always in the depths of his being rose to the surface for that one time in his earthly life. And I believe the reason that this event is so important in the life of Jesus, is because at this time it confirms His deity, the fullness of God. The disciples are given a glimpse of the glory that all believers will see when we get to Heaven.
While on the mountain they saw the prophets Elijah and Moses.
These were two of the greatest recorded figures of Israel’s history. Elijah was a figure of the prophets, and he had a mountaintop experience on Mt. Horeb. Moses was a symbol of the law; he had a mountaintop experience on Mt. Sinai. Moses died and Elijah was taken directly into Heaven. These were men who had been to the mountain and had shared an elevated moment.
The Transfiguration was a preview of the rapture of the saints at the Second Coming of Christ. Moses and Elijah represent the two categories of people who will be claimed by Jesus upon His return.
Moses represents those who would be taken in death, and Elijah represents those taken in the Rapture.
Mark says that they were talking to Jesus and Luke tells what they were talking about. He was talking about death or his departure which He was about to complete at Jerusalem.
But his death on the cross was not a tragedy or coincidence, but rather it was the reason he came into to this world.
Peter is the first on to respond to what is happening he said, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" the bible said that he said this because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
In a moment like this, it was so mind blowing, so awesome, and so breathtaking that it blew his mind. Mark says that Peter did not know what to say because he was terrified. But remember Peter was always someone who had something to say even when there is nothing to say. Peter was one of those people who felt that it was his job to fill every moment of silence. Peter said, Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
I don’t know for sure what Peter’s intent was but surely implied in the making of the tabernacles is the desire to remain there. Peter and the others wanted to prolong the great moment on the mount. And sometimes in worship service I get like Peter, I want to linger there, we don’t want to leave. While Peter is still speaking, God interrupted him and his thoughts of the tabernacles when a cloud overshadows them.
Please understand that this is the Shekinah glory of God, that has showed up. This was the evident and the sign of the authority, the power and the attendance of God. Remember that this cloud had led the children of Israel in the wilderness. This is the cloud by day and fire by night. This cloud had covered the Tabernacle when it was finished. This is the cloud that had filled the Temple of Solomon when it was completed. This was the same cloud of glory that Ezekiel seen depart because of Israel’s abandonment, and it had not be seen in Israel for 600 years. And now it surrounds them on the mount.
So, it is said that a voice spoke to them, and as the cloud settled on the mountain, out of cloud the voice of God began speaking saying, this is my beloved Son. And I need you all to hear him!" It was a gentle rebuke to Peter because the Father did not say anything about Elijah or Moses. He said, this is my Son, and I need you all hear to him.”
But then there was the perception of this experience. Matthew tells us that, when the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, and said get up, and don't be afraid."
I believe that this was an experience that they were never to forget!! Peter tells us that they were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Luke says that “the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening.
Matthew said that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Matthew also said suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. And before they realized it the cloud passed away, when the visitors were gone and the voice that came from Heaven was no longer heard, only Jesus remained.
The point is that God allows them to see who Jesus really was.
So, as I close I need you to know that on the mountain:
There was joy on the mountaintop.
And I’m doing my best to climb the mountain every day.
I know that I cannot live on the mountaintop, But I’m still climbing higher and higher. Because I want an intimate fellowship with God, and then after I leave the mountaintop then I want to take what we have gained on the mountaintop back down into the valley.
I want this experince so that I can:
Minister to the misery of man in the valley.
Encourage the low in spirit
Bless those that are in need
So, that I can help somebody as I travel along the way, so that my living won’t be in vain.
Because I know that at the bottom of the mountain there is always a suffering and a needy world that needs the ministry of those who have been on a mountaintop with God.
I don’t know about any other mountains, and I’ve seen a lots of mountains in my life.
I’ve seen the mountains of Colorado.
I’ve seen the mountains of California,
I’ve seen Mount Rush Moore.
And I seen Mount Everest. But right now I’m only concerned about one mountain.
I have heard about the mountains in the Himalaya’s. I heard of the Mount Sinai, I’ve heard of Mount Tabor, and I’ve heard of Mount Moriah.
But I’m only concerned about one Mount this morning.
I’m concerned about this mountain having an experience with God. and if you want to go with me you don’t have to go far at all.
Well pastor tell me where is this mountain located. It’s located at Calvary.
It’s where you can meet the Lord in all of his splendors
It’s where the view is always better from the mountains
It’s where the distant is worth the different
But most of all it is where you can see Jesus in all of his glory.
Is there anybody here that wants a mountaintop experience?
