(This is part 1 of a 2-part Devotional.)
Scripture: Luke 9:28-36, Barclay Commentary, Interpreter’s Bible.
Jesus is teaching, healing and preaching. He had recently healed the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years and Jairus’s daughter, who was pronounced dead, whom Jesus raised. Jesus is still healing in our time, as well.
In this story, Jesus is tired and takes Peter, James and John on the mountain to pray. I cannot imagine the wonderful experience of being with Jesus, the Light of the world, our Savior, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus, being fully human and fully God, is tired, yet He always has time to care for us.
Today, we are reminded of our mountaintop experiences as we look at Jesus. At the time of this writing, we’re celebrating Transfiguration Sunday.
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Eight days after Jesus feeds the 5,000, He goes to the mountain to pray. Jesus is praying and His face changed, His clothes became bright as a flash of lightning. Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, the Anointed One who came to save us.
Jesus throughout His earthly life teaches us to pray. There is a time when we all need to steal away on Mt. Heron. Take a break, get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Spend time with God and be refreshed.
Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in splendor talking with Jesus. They spoke about Jesus leaving earth. Moses was the lawgiver, spending 40 days and nights on a mountain, glowed on returning to the people in the wilderness and Elijah was the great prophet at Mt. Carmel where God rained down fire and parted the Jordan for him. Jesus and his two visitors spoke about Jesus fulfilling His mission at Jerusalem.
The Bible tells us that we, too, are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. As believers, we experience a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven when we accept Jesus as our personal savior.
Peter, James and John were very sleepy, becoming fully awake, they saw Jesus’ glory and two men standing with Jesus. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said: Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put three shelters, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah, not knowing what he was saying. Peter, James and John (Jesus’ intimate 3) are in awe of what they see. This is a moment to hold on to. This is a mountaintop experience.
When we experience the joy of a mountaintop experience, oftentimes we want to stay there. A special birthday party, graduation from high school or college, getting the job we dreamed of for years. However, we cannot stay on the mountaintop. There is much work to be done down in the trenches.
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice, God’s voice, came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him. When the voice had spoken, they found Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and told no one at that time what they had seen.” Some of our times with Jesus are just for us. Jesus will tell us when to reveal our epiphany moments, our mountaintop experiences, when our testimony is needed to strengthen and bless others.
Each day we have the opportunity to travel with Jesus, just as Peter, James and John did. The disciples saw Jesus heal the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus’s daughter. What miracles have you seen in your lifetime? Have you seen the storm pass over Pine Bluff that was predicted. Have you seen the evening turn miraculously to dark night. Have you seen the leaves return to the trees with vibrant colors? Who controls the changing of the seasons? The Trinity, God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit are always working miracles for us.
Have you seen friends return healthy after battles with cancer or diabetes, when doctors said “call the family” for there is nothing else we can do for them? Jesus says, yes, when we least expect a miracle. I’m looking for Jesus’s miracles.
Every day with Jesus is an exciting experience. We are called to follow Jesus every day and to see with Jesus’s eyes, the joy of our salvation.
Peter said “It is wonderful for us to be here.” He suggested building three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Let’s stay on this mountaintop. Moses must have felt like he was on a cloud during those 40 days and nights with God, but he had to come down to lead the people. Simeon waited until he was old to see the promise, holding Baby Jesus and blessing Jesus. God promised Simeon that he would not die before blessing Jesus. Anna served years in the temple and was also given the task of blessing Jesus. Peter, James and John got a glimpse of radiant Jesus with Moses and Elijah and they heard God’s voice.
When we have a mountaintop experience, we may want to stay there. Let’s remember that if we stayed there, we would miss all of the wonderful experiences, as well as challenging experiences, that follow.
The Rev. Edna Morgan is pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. Her husband, David Morgan, is a retired pastor in the Arkansas Conference, and together, they established a 501(c) (3) non-profit retreat center, Healing Place Ministries, in 2004, that serves the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County areas.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.