A number of years ago, Jennifer and I set out on a bright bluebird winter morning for an epic snowshoe adventure. We drove to the village of Montgomery, VT and took Route 58, otherwise known as “Hazen’s Notch Road” and parked at the trailhead for Burnt Mountain. We knew the beauty of its summit in the summer and fall, but we wanted to see what it was like in the wintertime. So, we strapped on our snowshoes and began our accent. The snow was about eight feet deep and it took us four hours to trudge to the top. It was a frustrating and exhausting climb, but when we got to the summit, we knew that the payoff was worth the work. The snow formations among the trees looked like giant white mushrooms. They were so unique and pristine that we actually felt like we were in another world—a true winter wonderland. And when we got to the clearing on the summit and gazed at the 360 degrees of snow capped valley below us, we were paralyzed by the breathtaking beauty. It was a true mountaintop experience!
The expression “mountaintop experience” is commonly used in the English language to describe any transcendent or awe-inspiring event whether it actually happens on a mountain or not. Getting married, having a baby, winning an award, and achieving a sports victory are all considered “mountaintop experiences.” Have you ever had a mountaintop experience?
This expression has originated from the Bible because of the dealings God had with His people on various “mountain-tops”. Noah’s ark came to rest on one of the mountains of Ararat. Abraham passed God’s test with his willingness to sacrifice his own son on Mount Moriah. God revealed his glory and gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and God spoke to him in a still small voice on Mount Horeb. The Old Testament is filled with mountaintop experiences!
In today’s text, Peter, James, and John, the three disciples in Jesus’ inner circle, have a mountaintop experience like no other. Jesus took them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. Jesus revealed his divine glory to these disciples in a way that he has never shown anyone else. Let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ transfiguration, the ultimate mountaintop experience!
1.) Jesus’ Divine Glory (1-8)
Six days after Peter’s climactic confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and Jesus’ first prediction of his death, he led his inner circle up a high mountain to witness one of the most significant events of their lives, Jesus’ Transfiguration. The precise mountain is not identified. Mount Tabor has been favored throughout most of church history, but new archeological discoveries reveal that there was a Roman garrison stationed at the foot of Mount Tabor during Jesus’ time, making this theory highly unlikely. Today, most biblical scholars favor Mount Hermon, which was the most majestic peak in the region, towering 9,166 feet above sea level.
Regardless of which mountain it was, Jesus and the disciples ascended to the exact he wanted, and Matthew tells us that Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes. The Greek word translated here as “transfigured” is (metamorphoo) from which we get our English word metamorphosis. As a common caterpillar goes into a cocoon and is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, Jesus was momentarily transformed from his human form to his pre-incarnate divine form. Matthew uses the descriptions of Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothes became as white as light. The passive voice indicates that God the Father is the one who orchestrated Jesus’ transfiguration. Seeing Jesus in all of his divine glory would have been an incredible sight and it would have left no doubt in the disciple’s minds of Jesus’ true identity as God in human flesh and the promised Messiah.
As the three disciples fixed their eyes on Jesus, just then Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. They were two of the greatest Old Testament figures, representing the law and the prophets. Interestingly, both of these men had marvelous mountaintop experiences of their own. Their appearance on the mountain with Jesus indicates the greatness of Jesus, who transcends them both as the One who will be declared the Son of God. Peter recognizes that it was good for he and his fellow disciples to be there and offers to build three shelters or memorials in honor of the three holy men. But while he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
The voice from the cloud is obviously the voice of God the Father delivering the same statement of divine approval that he gave at Jesus’ baptism. Jesus has fulfilled the law and the prophets, now it is made clear that he is superior to Moses and Elijah, who revelations ultimately point to Jesus.
When the disciples saw this amazing sight and heard God’s unmistakable voice, they appropriately fell facedown to the ground in fear, wonder, and respect. And when Jesus came over to calm their fears, they looked up and saw no one but Jesus.
This mountaintop experience of Jesus’ transfiguration gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ divine glory and supremacy. Many people today like to say that Jesus was just another man. They say he was a good moral teacher, a wise philosopher, a powerful religious leader, but they say the same thing about Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, Joel Osteen, and the Dali Lama.
A few weeks ago when I was flying home from Florida, I sat beside a girl from St. Johnsbury, who is a freshman at Tulane University. She was flying home to visit her family. After I asked her a few questions about college, she asked me what I did for work. When I told her that I was a pastor, she had a somewhat suspicious yet curious look on her face. Our conversation immediately turned to the topic of religion. She enthusiastically told me everything that she learned in her religion class last semester. She told me that her class even covered a unit on Satanism. I said, “Really! How was that?” She said it was really interesting. I asked her, “Now that you have studied Satanism, would you say that you believe in Satan more or less now.” She replied, “Oh, less, of course. I don’t believe in Satan.” Then she proceeded to tell me that she fell in love with the teachings of the Dalai Lama and that she respected him more than Jesus Christ. I asked her if she had much religious background before taking the class. She said, “Oh yeah, I’m Catholic and I can’t wait to attend mass on Sunday.
The girl obviously did not have a clue who Jesus really is. Even though she was raised Catholic, to her Jesus was just another religious figure. People are so confused today. Mohammed is not God—he is dead. Buddha is—he is dead. Confucius is not God—he is dead. Joel Osteen is not God—he isn’t even a good preacher. And the Dalai Lama is no different.
Jesus is the only one who is different. He is the second person of the Holy Trinity, he is the only begotten Son of the Father, he was the only one to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he is true God of true God and yet humbled himself to become human flesh and dwell among us, he is the promised Messiah who is superior to Moses, Elijah, and the other figures of Judaism. He is the firstborn of all creation and is transcendent and supreme over everything because he created everything. He revealed his glory to these three disciples in this mountaintop experience! Do you know who Jesus is?
3.) Jesus’ Divine Mission (9-13)
As Jesus and the three disciples were coming back down the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he was raised from the dead. Jesus didn’t want them to say anything because the crowds would have interpreted Jesus’ transfiguration and meeting with Moses and Elijah as the time for Jesus to effect national and military liberation. They would have pressured him into a different mission than he came to accomplish.
Then Jesus proceeded to explain to these disciples that the Old Testament prophecies about Elijah returning were already fulfilled by John the Baptist, but the Jews did not recognize him. Instead of recognizing him as a true prophet that came in the spirit of Elijah, they persecuted him, imprisoned him, and cut his head off.
Then, at the end of verse 12, Jesus drops the bomb again when he says, “In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Jesus knew exactly what his divine mission was. His mission was not to liberate the Jews from Roman occupation. His mission was not to provide the needs of the poor. His mission was not to bring justice to the oppressed. His mission was not to heal the sick and the lame. His mission was to die for the sins of the world, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of that mission.
Today people use Jesus to support whatever social, political, or military agenda they are peddling, but Jesus will have none of it. His mission was to come to earth and die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins so that we would have a way of escaping eternal damnation in hell. His mission was to carry his cross to his own mountaintop experience on Mount Calvary. His mission was to endure the nails, the thorns, and the spear and to shed his precious blood for the atonement of our sins. His mission was and still is to bring hope to lost sinners like you and me.
Have you benefitted from Jesus’ mission? Have you repented from your sins and put your faith in the divine Son of God who died in your place. If not, I pray that you will do it today!
As I conclude this sermon, I would like to point out one last phrase found at the end of verse 5. After God the Father verbally affirms his Son during the transfiguration, he says three little words to the disciples—“Listen to him!”
We have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ glory at the transfiguration. We have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ divine mission when he told the disciples that he would suffer like John the Baptist. And these three words real God divine mission for our lives today—“Listen to him!”
So, as we leave this place today, I challenge you to listen to Jesus. Pattern your thoughts, words, and actions after him. Respond to him in faith. Follow him wherever he leads you. Listen to him every day. And you too, may have a mountaintop experience of your own!