And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” 2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”– 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

– Mark 9:1-7 (NKJV)

Have you ever had a moment in your life that felt so good that you wish it could last forever? Maybe it was a really good day and you got to go on an adventure. Or maybe it was because you were in the company of someone you really love. Or maybe it was a camp or Christian experience where you felt really close to God. You were afraid to let go of the moment because you wanted things to last. In the passage we read today we find three disciples in one of those incredible moments where life is about as sweet as it can possibly get and they don’t want to leave. They want to stay and experience it always.

A lot happens in a very brief amount of time at the Transfiguration. First, Jesus predicts that there will be some who will not die until they have seen the kingdom of God present in power. And then in the matter of six days three of His disciples accompany Him and see this magnificent sight as a fulfillment of what he has said.

Second, we take notice that in the Jewish law it was proper for there to be three witnesses. So we see the three disciples, who are witnesses of humanity. But we also see Moses and Elijah who are present with Jesus that bare testimony from the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). Yet at the last moment we hear God the Father who has manifested as a cloud here speak and say that Jesus is, “his beloved son. hear him!” And so we have the testimony of God the Father as well!

Third, It’s the comment of Peter that sticks out. Peter answers some sort of prompt with this idea that he’ll build a shelter for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and they can all just stay there! This word, “Tabernacle” or “shelter” is a word that is common, yet it has a rich history. When Israel wandered the dessert they lived in tents and “shelters” and in the very middle of the camp there was a special “tabernacle” it was the one where God chose to manifest His glory. God Himself was encamped with His people. He was present with His people! So when Peter blurts this word shelter out, it’s absurd but it hits the right note. It hits at something that God wants and what we want; the abiding presence of God!

But rather than building a shelter for everyone, the cloud of God’s glory rolls over head and the LORD says, “This is my beloved son. Hear Him!” That’s the answer to Peter’s longing (and the longing of our hearts as well). This is the healing balm to the brokenness wrought on humanity by sin. Receive the Son and hear Him! Jesus stands as the mediator between God and man!

So here we are confronted with some great truths about who Jesus is and it is left up to us what to do with it. Will we listen to Jesus? Will we be like the wise man who builds his house on the rock in Matthew 7 by taking Jesus words and put them into practice? Will we be like the branch that abides in the vine in John 15 and let his word abide in us? Will we submit our lives to him?…. If we will hear him then he is ours and we are his!

When we have those “Mountain Top” experiences we often wish we could stay a little longer. And one day every Christian will experience that presence of God in a full sensory sort of way. The small peaks into the climate of heaven are good for us and help create a healthy longing for God, but they also prepare us for the valleys in this life as well. Jesus and these three disciples won’t stay on this mountain they will eventually enter the valley as well.

• What “Mountain top” experiences with God have you had in your life?
• How have they helped prepare you for the valleys of life?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We thank you for the times when we have felt especially close to you. Thank you for the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the direction and purpose he give. Give us grace and clarity to trust you when things are going well and when they aren’t. Thank you for making sure there were several witnesses recorded who could share with us exactly who Jesus is. We thank you for the Law, the Prophets, and the Eye witness testimony of the three disciples. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.