Revealed on the Mountaintop

Psalm 99:1-5; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18; Luke 9:28-36

The season of Epiphany ends with this mountaintop experience, known as the Transfiguration.  Jesus takes three of his disciples up to the mountain to pray.  As they are praying, Jesus’ appearance was changed and he is joined by Moses and Elijah, two great figures from the Hebrew Scriptures; one who brought the law from God and the other was an important prophet.  There is, of course, a sermon in the reasoning for these two men but I want to move beyond them to focus on the final epiphany or revealing of Jesus as God’s Son here on the mountaintop.

Jesus disciples, Peter, John and James, were chosen to accompany Jesus to the mountain to pray.  If we were to read through the events of Jesus ministry we would see that Jesus and his disciples were constantly busy, either moving from town to town or dealing with large crowds.  So as they head to the mountain, it is not only a time for prayer but a time when they are seeking a bit of respite.  The scriptures tell us that while Jesus was praying this transfiguration occurs.  After the description of what happens we read from Luke 9:32 (NIV): “Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.” The disciples must have been praying and fell asleep.  This seems to be a habit of theirs, but, then again, I have to admit that I, and I am sure some of you as well, can identify with them.  There are times that at the end of a long day, when I sit down to pray, I soon find myself dozing off.  Not that I plan on it or even want to fall asleep but when I finally sit down, my body relaxes and off to La La land I go.  So the disciples have fallen asleep or are very sleepy as the text tells us.  BUT when they became fully awake, they see Jesus in His Glory.  Jesus is revealed not to sleeping or half awake disciples but when they are fully awake.

We can only imagine the disciples are rendered speechless until of course, Peter breaks the silence.  This is so typical of Peter.  He can’t stand silence, or at least, he always has something to say or do.  As well-meaning and anxious as Peter is he misses the point of what is before them and says to Jesus.

“Master,” he said, “it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (v. 33).  Even while he is still speaking, they are enveloped in a cloud and a voice breaks through saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” (v. 35).

LISTEN TO HIM!!!  Stop talking Peter and listen!  Stop talking and over-thinking what is before you and just listen to Jesus.  This scripture ends with “The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.”  Why?

Well, let’s think about that.  First of all, they were told to listen.  They were not told to go and tell others what you have seen.  They were told to “Listen.”

In addition to this, maybe they were doubting what they had seen.  When something extra-ordinary happens, do we immediately want to tell others about it or do we maybe take a step back and begin thinking… “This didn’t really happen..did it?  Maybe I wasn’t really awake?  Maybe I am hallucinating.”

Humans are quick to discount miracles or extra-ordinary events because it is too much for us to handle.  The world teaches us that the things we can touch and feel and explain are the only things that are real and true.  So when something miraculous or extra-ordinary happens we are more likely to ask questions and seek some kind of explanations.

Have you ever heard the saying, “love is blind”?  You know it’s like when your friend that gets engaged to someone that seems totally wrong, yet your friend sees so much more to love than you can.  Well, I recently read about a woman who said, “No, love isn’t blind. Quite the opposite. It has the ability to see some things others cannot see.”  Love opens the eyes to see deeper and clearer.

What if our love of God and Jesus, in other words our faith, opens our eyes (or fully awakens our senses) to see and understand situations and words that others can’t comprehend?  Peter, John and James loved Jesus and had followed close to him and so when they are with him on this mountaintop they are privileged to have an awakening that reveals who Jesus is and they are told – now that you know – listen to HIM!

Jesus transfiguration on the mountaintop opened the eyes of these disciples just in time.  At the end of this chapter in Luke it is written, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”  This is the beginning of the end (which of course is really the beginning but let’s not get ahead of ourselves).  The disciples needed to be fully awake – physically and spiritually to listen and to experience what was about to happen to Jesus.

As we move from the season of Epiphany – a time of revelation, we head into the season of Lent.  Lent is a time that we need be fully awake to listen.

Maybe we need to listen to who Jesus is to us?

Maybe we need to listen and discover who we are in Jesus?  Whatever it is we are to hear, we are told to listen.

Are there ways that we can help ourselves be more awake to listen and to hear what Jesus is teaching us and calling us to do?

There is no arguing that we are inundated by all kinds of noise that keeps us from being quiet and truly listening.  TV, radio, phones, children, spouses, friends all of them call for our attention.

How do we find time or space to listen to Jesus?

Now, you know I have some thoughts and ideas:  First I want to say, listening doesn’t have to always be in silence.

Maybe in the midst of all those things that are calling for our attention Jesus is speaking to us.

Maybe on Sunday morning we can hear Jesus in the songs we sing or the scriptures we read or even in the message – that I always pray comes from God.

Maybe it will be in the moments of silence in our prayer time that we will hear Jesus speaking.

Maybe through Bible Study – either on your own in the quiet of your home or in a group of people who are all sharing how God may be speaking to them?

In all these situations if we allow ourselves to be fully awake to the Love of God, maybe we will hear or experience God in some way.  Maybe we too can have our own mountaintop experience.

As we head into this Lenten Season may we be fully awake and alert to Listen!  And to hear what God has in store for us.