Up the Mountain with Jesus

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

Mark 9:2

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Why did Jesus make these three disciples climb all the way up a high mountain to be transfigured in front of them? He could have done this in a much more convenient location, so why up a mountain?

‌‌Throughout Scripture, God often appeared to His people on mountain tops. It was on Mt. Sinai that God first revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. And it was on the same mountain that God spoke to Israel out of a dense cloud of thunder and lightning. And where did God send Abraham, to test him, by commanding him to offer his beloved son Isaac up as a sacrifice? It was atop Mount Moriah. And what about the Prophet Elijah? Where was he when the Lord appeared to him with a strong wind, an earthquake and a fire? He was on Mt. Horeb wasn’t he? But the Lord wasn’t in the strong wind. He wasn’t in the earthquake, and He wasn’t in the fire. He came as a still small voice didn’t He? In all these stories God met His people on top of a mountain.

‌‌And, incidentally, in Exodus 24, when God called Moses up Mt. Sinai to give him the Ten Commandments, Moses went partially up the mountain and waited six days before God called to him and invited him to enter the cloud of His presence. It’s interesting then, that Mark says Jesus took them up the mountain after six days.

‌‌So, why up a mountain? Two reasons. First, it connects Jesus’ transfiguration with other stories from Scripture where men saw or heard from God. It’s a hint that what these three disciples are about to witness is nothing less than a revelation of who God is.

‌‌Second, I believe this story, and all the other stories of people climbing mountains to meet God, show that while salvation is free, a close relationship with God takes work. Have you ever climbed a mountain? It’s hard work! The disciples likely had to get up early and walk for hours with aching legs. It was probably late morning or lunchtime before they reached the top. But when they got there, they were all alone with Jesus. Sometimes getting alone with God, takes effort and work.

Any relationship takes effort. Being close to God is no different. If you want to be close to God, if you want to stay close to God, then you are going to have to put in the work to have that close relationship with Him. I’m not talking about salvation. I’m talking about intimacy, closeness.

If you aren’t willing to get up early or stay up late to read your Bible, if you aren’t willing to pray (and keep praying even after you get bored), if you aren’t willing to turn off the TV or put down your phone to spend time with God, then you won’t be as close to Jesus as you could be. As much as we fret over the “major sins” making inroads in the lives of Christians today, perhaps the sin doing the most damage in our lives is a simple lack of desire to know God, a lack of willingness to climb the mountain and do the hard work of pursuing closeness with Him.

‌‌If you don’t have the close relationship with God that you want, let me ask, “Have you been putting in the work? Have you been climbing that mountain every day to go meet with Him. Have you put in your six days of waiting? Or did you give up too quickly? Did you tap out when the Bible didn’t immediately make sense to you or when prayer wasn’t fun anymore?” If you want to be closer to God, start climbing the mountain.

Knowing Jesus

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

Mark 9:2

During Jesus' earthly ministry there were only a few people who saw Him for what He really was. Jesus fully revealed Himself to Peter, James, and John alone. They alone saw Him transfigured, His clothes shining white, standing on the mountaintop talking to Moses and Elijah. They alone heard the voice of God saying, "This is my Son, whom I love, Listen to Him!"

This special revelation wasn't for all of Jesus' followers. It wasn't for Jesus' family (though they certainly received their own special revelation). It wasn't even for the twelve disciples. It was reserved for these three alone. 

Everyone else who knew Jesus, knew Him imperfectly. In fact, any fair reading of the gospels would have to admit that even these three- who received perhaps the greatest revelation of Jesus' nature- still didn't know Jesus perfectly. They received the revelation, but they didn't fully understand it. Verses nine and ten records that as they were coming down the mountain Jesus warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen until He was raised from the dead. But they questioned among themselves what Jesus could possibly mean by "rising from the dead." Their understanding of Jesus and His mission was still imperfect even after the transfiguration.

Yet, it seems to me, that most Christians today assume they have fully comprehended who Jesus is, what He accomplished, and what His will for their life is. Christians today don't see Jesus' nature, His divinity, His life, His death, or His teaching as a great mystery to be unlocked. No! We arrogantly assume that we already know all there is to know about Jesus. We think we learned it all in Sunday School songs as children. 

I am convinced that many Christians will be ashamed to realize how little they understood their Savior when they get to Heaven. Peter, James, and John walked with Jesus in the flesh for three years. He was transfigured in their presence. His identity was proclaimed to them by the very voice of God coming from a cloud, and still they did not fully grasp the greatness of who Jesus was. So, don't you think it's possible that you still have more to learn about Christ as well? 

We will never exhaust the glorious mysteries found in knowing Jesus throughout all of eternity. So, I feel confident in saying that neither you nor I have exhausted them here on earth. You still have more to learn about Jesus! Don't fall for the lie that you already know Him perfectly. Press in and press on to get to know Him better for there is greater joy and a deeper sense of awe with each fresh revelation of His character.

Mountain Climbing with Jesus

Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them...

Mark 9:2

Have you ever climbed a mountain? I've been blessed to climb quite a few and I can say three things with certainty about mountain climbing. (And these are just as true for the small tourist attraction mountains with gift shops as they are for the big mountains out in the backcountry that you have to hike miles to get to.) 

1. Mountain climbing is hard. It necessarily involves walking uphill. Whether it's a paved path with steps or a winding trail with cutbacks, my quads burn.
2. There will always be more people at the bottom than at the top. Some will choose to stay down in the gift shop. Others will start the climb and have to quit halfway up. Inevitably, there will be fewer people on the peak than there are at the base.
3. The view from the top is always worth the work. I've never climbed a mountain and been underwhelmed. You are always glad you did it. 

And I believe these three truths give us some insight into the story of the transfiguration. Jesus chose a mountain because mountain climbing is hard. There is a fellowship to be had in the hours it takes to climb a truly high mountain. It gives plenty of time to talk. And it breeds a certain type of camaraderie to suffer together. (Philippians 3:10-11) These men were Jesus' inner ring of disciples and He chose a perfect activity to get alone with them. 

Jesus likely chose a high mountain because He wanted to get alone with these three. This particular mountain was high enough to ensure that the crowds wouldn't dare follow. Jesus made sure they would be alone because He wanted to reveal something special to them. 

And you better believe that the special view they received into Jesus' true nature was well worth the effort. What they saw on that mountain was a revelation that they would talk about for years to come!

So remember this the next time God leads you up a hard path in life. The harder the path, the closer the fellowship you build with Him. The more difficult the route, the less people will follow you. Which means the glimpse you receive of God's goodness will be all the more rare and unique a gift. So when God leads you up a steep path and you're not sure the pain is worth it, think ahead to the view that you'll enjoy at the end of the journey and choose to enjoy the fellowship along the way. And press on!