Scenes on top of mountains abound in scripture: Ararat, Sinai/Horeb, Carmel, Jesus’ preferred solitude locations for prayer, the Sermon on the …, Golgotha, Ascension. They are all places of demarcation.
Being up a mountain, they are all not-easily-accessed.
Today we’re reading again Jesus’ transfiguration (on a mountain). Despite having many disciples, Jesus only took three. Why do you think this is? Not all of his disciples were there for the mountaintop experience. Does Jesus play favorites? Doesn’t God “love everyone equally”?
Peter wanted to stay there, to build lasting monuments. But the divine voice simply declared from heaven a command to listen to Jesus. It might be notable that Peter’s request was simply ignored. It didn’t even garner a, “No.” God just moved on.
And then Jesus reached out his hand and touched the disciples, laying on the ground and said,
“Get up. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 17:1-13
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces, filled with awe.
But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One is raised from the dead.”
The disciples asked, “Then why do the legal experts say that Elijah must first come?”
Jesus responded, “Elijah does come first and will restore all things. In fact, I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they didn’t know him. But they did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way the Human One is also going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples realized he was telling them about John the Baptist.
Prayer
God,
You made mountains and hills at the very beginning: places on high.
It was on high you settled the Ark.
It was on high that you gave your Law.
It was on high that Solomon built your Temple.
It was on high that you whispered to Elijah.
It was on high that Jesus revealed your Kingdom.
It was on high that you spoke over him: “This is my beloved, in whom I am well-pleased.”
It was on high that he was lifted up and crucified.
And Jesus’ feet last touched the earth up on a mount on high.
I’d like to be there, but it seems that you determine when things happen on mountaintops. So I relent to your timing. And I wait. Help me wait.
I trust you.
By your Spirit and in Christ.
Amen.
Amen!