"And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were conversing with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!' And all at once they looked around and saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only. And as they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. And they seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead might mean." (Mark 9:2-10)
Wouldn't it be nice if all of us were always on top of the world? If we were all in a perpetual good mood with circumstances working out right, with people treating us wonderfully; getting the affirmation we need, the faithful love we desire, and the respect we are due...if that were indeed the case, life would truly be grand! But, alas, that is not where we always live.
Zig Ziglar tells the story of eating at a neighbor's house when he was a child. The neighbor had a cook who had fixed some biscuits. But the biscuits came out as thin as his watch. He said to her, "What happened to your biscuits?" She replied, "Well, I put them in the oven and they squatted to rise, but the heat was high and they got cooked in the squat." Sometimes that is where we are - cooked in the squat. Sometimes life is like that. The heat is on, and we feel it.
Some people always appear to be on the mountaintop. These are the people who are thrilled with life. There was a fellow in college who was always "super." When I would ask him how things were, he would reply with a big smile, "SUPER!" When I would share with him my plans, he would say, "SUPER!" Frankly, I really liked being around him. His positive attitude picked me up. He made me believe that life could be super. But all of us know that everything is not always super. Life is not lived on the mountaintop. Life is lived primarily in the valley.
Does the Bible hold out hope for those of us valley-dwellers? As a valley-dweller, I can honestly answer, "Fer sure!" In fact, the Bible teaches us how to use those mountaintop experiences to equip us for valley living. The key is to get some of the mountain into the valley. And that should be important to us. What is experienced by us as we scale the heights can be used as we deal with the depths of human need. Because we live in the valley, the mountaintop experience is vital. We need regular trips to the mountaintop to be encouraged and equipped for valley living.
In our text today, we see Jesus taking His inner circle of disciples to the mountain in order to prepare them for valley ministry. It is the account of the transfiguration of Christ, and it reveals to us several important lessons which can help us translate our mountaintop experiences into daily life.
In the Scriptural account we have before us, Jesus is taking His inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John, up onto a high mountain for a time of solitude. Luke's Gospel tells us they were "to pray." We believe this was Mount Herman because of its height and its close proximity to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus was ministering. Herman's peaks rise some 11,000 feet above the Jordan valley. From Jerusalem to Tyre, its snow-clad slopes can be seen on a clear day. Because of the length of such a climb, we believe it was late afternoon or early evening as they began their prayer meeting. This kind of thing was not unusual for Jesus. He was always stealing away to a solitary place to pray. But this time, He had brought His inner circle of disciples.
Why would Jesus take these three disciples up to such a lofty height to pray? Probably because they needed to be encouraged. As you recall, just six days earlier, the Lord had revealed to them the inevitability of His eventual suffering and death. They'd had to grapple with the reality of the Cross and they were stunned by it. Peter had objected and received a devastating rebuke from Jesus. Jesus had gone on to share that if any would follow Him, they must also take up their own crosses as well.
Now, Jesus had brought them along in order to encourage them and prepare them for the days ahead. And here they were, on top of the mountain with Jesus. What they were about to experience would be the most incredible sight they had ever seen. They wouldn't understand it. They would be totally blown away by it. There is no doubt they would replay this event in their minds for the rest of their lives, seeking to plumb the depths of its meaning and to understand its true significance. But what they would receive was encouragement. What was about to happen would be the most exciting thing they had experienced thus far. For they were about to see...
"And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them." (v. 2)
They were alone on top of the mountain. Evening had fallen, and they were in prayer. We don't know the topic of Jesus' prayer. Perhaps it was like His prayer in John 17 where He prayed for Himself, then His disciples, and then the lost world. Perhaps His disciples joined in with their own petitions and praise. Luke tells us that as the prayer meeting continued, His disciples were "very sleepy" and that they eventually dozed off. But then something amazing happened. Jesus was transfigured in their midst. The Scripture doesn't tell us who woke up first. But whoever it was, I'm sure instantly awakened the other two. What was happening was too great a sight to miss.
"And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them." (vv. 2c-3)
There on top of that mountain, with the only backdrop being a blanket of dark night, lit only by the summer stars, the inner glory of Jesus Christ was revealed. That is what the transfiguration did. It revealed the inner glory of Jesus' divinity. His clothing began to glow brightly white. The word can be translated "dazzling" or "glittering." Luke says that His garments became a brilliant white, like the light. Matthew says that His face shone like the sun. His clothes were brighter and whiter than any launderer could ever make them, and there was a glorious radiance around the Lord that night. He was transfigured, or more literally, "metamorphosized." Kent Hughes, in his commentary on Mark, says, "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. Or, put another way, He slipped back into eternity to His pre-human glory. It was a glance back and a look forward into His future glory!" Indeed, the glory of the Lord was revealed in Jesus, a glory that was always there. The glory of His deity began to shine through. I'm sure the disciples were absolutely spellbound.
"And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were conversing with Jesus." (v. 4)
If Jesus' transfiguration were not enough to blow them away, I'm sure the appearance of Moses and Elijah was. These were two of the greatest figures in all of Israel's history. They were mighty men of God. They were also no strangers to mountaintops. Moses had quite an encounter with God on Mount Sinai; as had Elijah on Mount Horeb. They had both experienced God's glory on the top of these two mountains. But in these two figures we see a symbol of the law and the prophets. And together they were talking with Jesus.
What a sight! Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, talking together. Luke tells us they were "speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." Jesus, who Himself said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill," (Matthew 5:17) was now discussing His death and the Cross with the chief representatives of the Law and the prophets. Can you imagine being in on that conversation? Needless to say, it would probably have been way over our heads. I know it was to the disciples.
That they didn't understand was a given. As Jesus' inner glory was revealed, their inner confusion was concealed. Even the attempt to conceal it made it more obvious.
"And Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. (vv. 5-6)
The disciples were overwhelmed. What they were witnessing was an otherworldly, terrifying experience. They stared in stunned silence. What was there to say? They had nothing to say, and Peter said it! He volunteered to build three tabernacles, one for each of them. Like many modern Christians today with an edifice complex, he wanted to do something religious. He was uncomfortable with the silence. All too often, we are like Peter, uncomfortable being silent in the presence of God. Every fiber of our being cries out, "Don't just sit there, say something!" And that is precisely what Peter did.
Unfortunately, the clamor to find an appropriate answer when there wasn't even a question, revealed the unfortunate fact that the disciples had no clue as to what was happening. Here, Jesus was transfigured before them. What in the world did that mean? Or did the world have anything to do with it? And now Moses and Elijah were here? What was that Moses was saying? Was this the expected coming of Elijah before the Messiah? If so, what should they do about it? What in the world was happening? We're not quite sure, so let's say something. Let's at least act like we know what's going on. It was obvious that some clarity needed to be given to the situation. And so what we see next is...
"Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!'" (v. 7)
What happened next was the cloud of Shekinah glory appeared on that mountaintop. Shekinah comes from a Hebrew root which means "to dwell." The Shekinah glory of God was the manifestation of the presence of God. And in the Old Testament, a luminous cloud was one such manifestation. God often appeared in such a cloud. As you recall, He appeared in both a luminous cloud and a pillar of fire in order to lead Israel through the wilderness. In Exodus 33 we see this cloud passing by Moses as Moses was covered in the cleft of the rock by God's hand. When the Tabernacle was finished, this cloud descended upon it in such a manifestation of God's glory that Moses himself could not even enter it. When Solomon's Temple was completed, the cloud again descended so that the priests could not enter. The cloud symbolized the dwelling of God among men. And this shekinah glory of God had not been seen is Israel for six hundred years. But now, this luminous cloud not only came, but it enveloped all of them. The entire top of the mountain was covered by the glory of God. That certainly would be enough to stop any wagging tongue, even Peter's.
An interesting sideline to this is found in the suggestion that what happened there in the transfiguration was a prophetic statement of what would happen at the second coming of our Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 tells us that at the coming of Christ, all humanity will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. One day, we along with all the saints of God, shall be together in that cloud of glory. Some day we, like the disciples, will be surrounded by God's glory, along with our Lord Jesus.
Out of that cloud came the voice of God. If the cloud was not enough to shut all mouths, certainly this was. God said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him!" While Peter was trying to mask his confusion with words, God was saying, "Enough. My Son is here. Close your mouth and listen to Him."
"And all at once they looked around and saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only." (v. 8)
Suddenly, Moses and Elijah were gone. God had spoken. He had singled out His Son. And now all that filled their vision was Christ. What God was saying was that His Son, Christ was of supreme significance. All the other things were to point to Him.
So often we are guilty of being captivated by peripheral things. The displays of God's power and glory themselves often lead us astray. The issue has been and always be Jesus. He is the one to whom our allegiance is due. He is the one to whom we should listen. Peter had to learn that, and we need to learn it, too. Peter would write later,
"For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased" -- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18)
God was pointing to Jesus. Moses and Elijah were only forerunners. The fulfillment was in Jesus. Listen to Him. Hear Him. Hebrews begins by a reaffirmation of this truth: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son." (Hebrews 1:1-2a) God has spoken His final word in His Son. The message of the transfiguration is that we must always look to Jesus. We must allow Him to speak to us. We must follow His word. He is at the center of all God's purposes; not only for the universe, but for our lives as well.
It also speaks to us of the truth of who Jesus is. Jesus Christ is God the Son. He is the One who, in an instant, can be transfigured into the radiant splendor of the glory of God. Hebrews 1:3 goes on to say, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." Jesus Christ is Lord. This is the vision those disciples beheld. And this should be the vision we have of Jesus.
When we spend time alone with Jesus, we also are transported to the mountaintop. And if we will put our eyes on Jesus and get them off of other things, we, too, will experience the glory of God. The problem that we have sometimes is like the problem the disciples had. They failed to see what God was trying to show them because their minds were still in the valley. We need to take our minds off of the things of this world in our times of intimacy with God, and put them on Jesus. We need to let Jesus fill our sight as He filled the disciples' sight after God had spoken. If we will, He will fill us with Himself. He will give us the power to go back down the mountain to the valley where we live, changed more into His image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just from the Lord, the Spirit." Beholding Jesus changes us. Beholding Jesus allows us to get a little of the mountain into the valley.
Now, they were on their way back down the mountain. What a vision! What an experience! I'm sure they could hardly wait to relate it to the other disciples. But Jesus forbids them. Why? I believe the answer is found in ...
"And as they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen." (v. 9a)
All the disciples had at this point was a grand memory for posterity. They could go back and share the vision with the other disciples. They could even preach about it to the multitudes. They could tell how Jesus was transfigured, and how His garments began to glow, and His face to shine like the sun. They could tell of Moses and Elijah, and then how God appeared in His glory and spoke to them out of the cloud. It was a great story. I'm sure the memory was burned into their minds for eternity.
But what did it mean? And what good was it to anyone?
Jesus had in mind something greater than a story you could tell your children while you pondered the greatness of God. That is why He gave them orders not to speak about what they had seen. The time wasn't right. Many things had to be done. There was more to be revealed. Months later, Jesus would declare, at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, that festival which was characterized by the illumination of the Temple by the four massive golden candelabra, topped with huge torches, that He was the light of the world. But there was still something even more important.
"He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. And they seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead might mean." (vv. 9b-10)
What Jesus was after was not a grand memory for posterity, but a Gospel message for people. He gave them orders not to say anything until He had risen from the dead. Jesus did not want the message to be His transfiguration. He wanted the message to be His Cross and resurrection. While the transfiguration is an interesting story, it cannot save anyone. The Cross is Christ's redemptive work. It is the Cross we preach. By His death and resurrection, He paid the penalty for the sin of all humankind. By trusting not in the transfiguration, but in Christ's sacrificial death, we are saved. There could be no preaching of the Gospel before His resurrection. You see, we must proclaim the whole Gospel, not part of it. We proclaim a Gospel that includes the virgin birth of Christ, the virtuous life of Christ, the vicarious substitutionary death of Christ, the victorious resurrection of Christ, and the visible second coming of Christ. This is the essence of the Gospel, and Jesus would not be preached apart from His Cross.
The glory of God is revealed in Jesus, and the mercy of God is revealed through His death on a Cross. Because He died there for you, He stands there today with open arms, this God of glory, to receive you to Himself, to forgive your sins, and to change you into His image. Only Jesus can help us take some of the mountain into the valley. Mountaintop glory for valley living -- that's what we need. We can find it in Jesus.
Copyright © 1997 J. David Hoke. This data file is the sole property of the copyright holder and may be copied only in its entirety for circulation freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above copyright notice.
This data file may not be copied in part (except for small quotations used with citation of source), edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of the copyright holder. Requests for permission should be made in writing and e-mailed to J. David Hoke, at David@JDavidHoke.com.