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On The Mountain Top



          
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After Apollo 15 mission to the moon, astronaut James Irwin wrote about his experience in space. He said that he was a witness to both the glory of God and and plight of man on earth when he experience the weightless body floating in space and seeing the rising crescent of the earth.


Three disciples who have seen Jesus in all the chapters before, get the glimpse of a new Jesus in this chapter. They have experienced something they have not experienced, they saw, they heard and they received. Here we see two groups of witnesses to the transfiguration. Peter, James, and John became the earthly witnesses; these were the three that were to bear record on earth. Interestingly all three wrote epistles to the churches witnessing to the churches.  


Mountains are to climb on. Jesus will be there to climb those mountains with you. If we are to experience new blessing in life, we may have to climb certain mountains.  Mountains are there to climb on.  The experience of mountain top gives us the opportunity to see and experience Jesus in a different perspective. 

If we are to experience new experiences in life, we may have to climb certain mountains.  Mountains give us opportunity to see God’s face in a different perspective. When we climb the mountains, with Jesus, we will see a lot of things about Jesus’ s goodness and glory. Peter, James and John always wanted to be with Jesus. They are the ones who wanted to sit at the right and left of Jesus when he becomes the King.  So they always went a little more than others. The others probably told Jesus, “Well, we will wait here, if you want to go”.  But Peter, James and John did go with Jesus to the top of the mountain. That’s why they could see the transfigured Jesus. They saw the heroes of faith from the past also. 


When you feel disappointed, and your efforts seem fruitless, feel like giving up, climb the mountain with Jesus.  When we have mountains in our life, don’t be afraid, Jesus has some plans for you. You will be happy that things happened like that when everything is over. Job says in Job 33:23, “someone may be chastened on a bed of pain, and may be with constant distress in their bones; 26 he will see God’s face and will shout for joy”. 


On the mount of Transfiguration, people from heaven joined people on earth to witness the glory of God in light of the plight of man. Moses and Elijah from heaven met with Peter, James and John and witnessed the declaration from heaven, “He is the beloved Son, Listen to Him!” to testify that 'law and prophets' have given way to 'grace and truth'. John later wrote, "We have seen His glory" (John 1:14) and Peter wrote, "We were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16-18). When Moses met God at Mount Sinai, he forbid people from going near (Exodus 19). Jesus came to take people to the Mount Zion where mortals meet the immortal (Hebrews 12). Moses and Elijah came down to the mountain top because of Jesus and not the other way around.


Our lives in this world are mixed with valleys and mountain tops. Mountains are there for mortals to climb on. Those who went up the mountain with Jesus were transforme at the sight of a Transfigured Jesus. There are times when you feel disappointed, dejected, depressed and feel too tired to climb. “Someone may be chastened on a bed of pain... he will see God’s face and shout with joy” (Job 33). Notice that Moses and Elijah had to leave just like all mortals will leave one day. Jesus will be the only one who will stay with you. You can trust Him in the valley and you can trust Him on the mountain top.




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