Think of your greatest mountaintop experience. Maybe it was your wedding day! Or, it might have been the moment you saw your first child being born. Could it have been at a time when you were part of a fantastic vacation event, where you were literally standing on top of a mountain looking out at the most beautiful piece of scenery your eyes had ever taken in. Whatever the situation may have been, as amazing as it was, I am confident it paled in comparison to the mountaintop experience that Apostles Peter, James, and John had.
The Gospel of Luke tells us in 9:28-36 about the unimaginable opportunity Peter, James, and John got to experience up on the mountain (which many biblical scholars believe was Mt. Tabor) when they were with Jesus. Here is the account as recorded by the Gospel writer:
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
I don’t know about you dear saints, but if I had the chance to see Jesus, shining in His glory with both Moses and Elijah present, I would be blown away. The Son of God standing alongside two of the most iconic Old Testament figures, WOW!!!!!! And then to hear the voice of God the Father affirming Jesus as His very Son and then specifically telling me to listen to Him. I can tell you without any doubt that would be a one unbelievable wakeup call.
In reality, you and I do get to be up there on the mountain, with these followers of Christ, through the gift of God’s Holy Word. We to can experience the glory of Jesus as He shines brightly in our hearts. Each day being blessed by the love of God in Christ Jesus, we can partake in that wonderful mountaintop moment of experiencing the glory of our Savior. As Jesus shines brightly in your hearts, so may you share His glorious light with others. Shine, Jesus, Shine!!!!!!!
Pastor McCarty
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