Have you ever had what you would describe as a mountaintop spiritual experience? A time when you felt so close to God you just caught a glimpse of glory. If so, it may have been a very emotional experience. Our faith is not based on emotional experience, yet at the same time, when those times do come in our life and we have a special encounter with God, that kind of experience can be emotional. It can also deepen our commitment to Christ.
The list of names from the Bible of those who have had a mountaintop experience would be extensive. Those who had an experience that gave them a unique glimpse of God’s glory. There was Adam before the fall who spoke with God. There was Abram who was called to leave his country. There was Jacob and the vision we call Jacob’s ladder. There was Moses when God’s glory passed him in the cleft of the rock.
There was the time Isaiah saw the holiness of God and cried out in despair for his sin. Ezekiel was having a glorious encounter with God in Babylon captivity when the heavens opened, and he saw visions of God. Not many can claim a Damascus road experience, but it changed Paul’s life.
Not all of the twelve disciples experienced a glimpse of glory we know as the transfiguration. For those that did, Peter, James and John, this was a life-changing event. They for a brief moment saw their master, Jesus in his glory. Let’s look at this event called the transfiguration and what it means for me and you.
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:2-8)
The transfiguration fits with the theme of what Jesus was trying to get over to his disciples, that he must die and they must be prepared. Jesus took three disciples and led them up the high mountain. Mt. Tabor is the traditional site of the transfiguration, but some think that Mt. Hermon was the place.
These three disciples were on the high mountain, alone with Jesus. This time the crowds could not distract them. Jesus was alone with them. Luke tells us they went up on that mountain to pray. Before their very eyes something tremendous happened. As Jesus was praying his face began to transform into a dazzling appearance. The Matthew passage says that Jesus’ face shone like the sun.
Even Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white. Luke says they became as bright as a flash of lightning. They were whiter than anyone could bleach them. Then two men appeared in glorious splendor and began to talk with Jesus. They were none other than Moses and Elijah.
These two men had unusual circumstances in their departure from this earth. For Elijah the transfer to heaven account is in 2 Kings. Elijah is walking with Elisha and a chariot of fire appeared and Elijah went to heaven in a whirlwind.
And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)
Moses died in Moab at the age of 120. His eyes were not weak, strength not gone. No one knew where his grave is. Apparently, he too was called straight to heaven.
It is significant what Moses and Elijah represent. Elijah represents the prophets. Those rugged men who spoke forth God’s word with conviction and courage. Sometimes making predictions of future events, of judgement and of the Messiah. Elijah stood representing what all the prophets stood for.
Moses represented the law of God. The books of the law are also called the books of Moses. The implication is that Jesus is meeting Moses and Elijah it represents him fulfilling all in the law and the prophets.
These two men talk with Jesus about the subject at hand. Jesus’ own departure that will take place in Jerusalem. They were discussing the cross with Jesus.
Luke says that while Jesus was praying Peter, James and John were very sleepy. It must have been tiring climbing the high mountain. Then they suddenly became fully awake when they saw the sight before them. A glimpse of Jesus in his glory. No one could sleep through that. It is a foretaste of what it will be like to worship around the throne in heaven. It is more like what we read of the exalted Jesus in Revelation chapter one.
Jesus in his glory is different than when he walked on earth to be mocked and rejected by men. It will be Christ in his glory, who will come again and judge the earth. Yes, the disciples became fully awake when they caught a glimpse of the glory of Jesus. If the location was Mt. Hermon, then they are 9,232 feet high, a climb that would make anyone tired.
John saw his vision of the glory of Jesus once again later on the Lord’s Day on the island of Patmos. Now that is a dramatic devotional time. Being in scripture and prayer and to catch a glimpse of the glory of Christ. That is the type of experience that will change our life. This should increase our desire to spend time before God in the Word, in prayer with expectancy to meet our Lord in a unique way. With our Bible open in a solitary place we seek the Lord and tell him we want to know him more.
Peter was so overwhelmed with the experience of the transfiguration that he just blurted out something that didn’t make much sense about building three shelters.
Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. (Mark 9:5-6)
Maybe you have been so caught off guard by something that you did not know what to say. That happened a lot with Peter. Maybe you could not believe this but there is a church on Mt Tabor where these three tabernacles have been built. I wonder who came up with the idea. You know the impulsive wrong idea Peter had to build three tabernacles, let’s do that.
Spiritual highs are great. Good quiet times, conferences, camps, but sometimes we have to get down from the mountain of transfiguration and spread the Gospel fulfilled in Jesus. The one who establishes time with God really meets with Jesus will leave that fellowship to go to the people. Moses came down from Mt. Siani and his face was still shining.
Peter’s idea was not approved by Jesus. Building the three tabernacles was not appropriate. When I visited Mt, Tabor, it really struck me that the three tabernacles where later constructed. It was first built by twelfth century crusaders.
In this time of transfiguration there was a voice from heaven. It was another glimpse of Glory. It was a glory cloud and the voice of God.
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:7)
The disciples fell face down on the ground terrified. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. (Matthew 17:6) There could be no doubt left in the minds of the disciples that Jesus is God’s Son. This is the glory of God. Jesus is the Messiah, the appointed and awaited one and he is the Savior and Lord.
This is God’s Son and we are to listen to him. When God’s son says you must be born again, listen to him. When God’s son says, I am the way the truth and the life, listen to him. When God’s son says “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Then listen to him.
Then as suddenly as it came the glimpse of glory is gone. The cloud is gone. The voice is gone. Moses and Elijah are gone. The face of Jesus shinning like the sun is gone. The disciples went down the mountain with Jesus facing a reality that Jesus is about to die on the cross.
Have you had a glimpse of glory? The most important glimpse of glory you can ever have is your salvation experience. Those who come to Christ may not see a glorified Christ, but to experience salvation is an unparalleled glimpse of glory.
In your devotional life you meet God and expect to encounter the glory of God. Let your devotional time be a time of having a glimpse of glory opportunity. Your life will never be the same. It was not the same for Peter, James and John. May you have the glimpse of glory in your own salvation and to continue to seek that glory in your devotional life.
