The Mountaintop

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 9:28-36

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A28-36&version=NIV;NLT

  

When I was in college, our church would hold a retreat for all the students.

We would be gone for forty-eight hours, and during that time we had a speaker, singing, games and fellowship. Usually, I would come home excited about my Christian faith. It was a mountaintop experience; but nothing like the one Jesus had.

 

² …Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³⁰ Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. ³¹ They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.   NLT

 

Although Peter, James and John were there, they had fallen asleep. When they woke up, Peter started talking without thinking, and suggested building a memorial for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.

 

³⁴ While he (Peter) was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”       NIV

 

Consider this interpretation of the story.

Jesus knew that he was about to go to Jerusalem; he knew what would happen to him there; he knew that he was about to experience the most painful part of his life. He also knew, that this was why he had been chosen.

But before going, he asked his closest disciples, and friends, to pray with him on a mountain. He wanted them to be with him; and he needed to be with his Heavenly Father. While there, he was transformed physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was a mountaintop experience; a milestone in his life.

Now he was ready to face whatever waited for him.

 

I’ve never come away from a retreat where my face has been transformed or my cloths became dazzling white. But I have come away knowing that I have been in the presence of God; feeling stronger in my faith; sensing greater purpose and mission in my life; and being ready for whatever was in my future.

 

You don’t have to go on a retreat to be in the presence of God.

 

 

But it’s important for us to make time to go to the Mountaintop; to spend extended time in His presence; to listen to His still, small voice; and to be transformed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind Door #1

Revelation 4:1-11

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+4%3A1-11&version=NIV;NLT

In 1963, Monty Hall was the original host of “Let’s Make a Deal”. The show continues today under the same premise as when it originated. Contestants have to choose between prizes that are relatively known, and what is behind Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3. “What’s a person to do? Oh my!”

 

John saw a door of a different nature with a different prize behind it.

 

¹ Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”          NLT

 

In John’s vision of Heavenly worship, he describes God as the brilliant image of someone sitting on the throne. Then he goes on to describe the scene that surrounds the throne including the living beings and the elders. They are the ones who worship God continuously.

 

⁸ Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”            NLT

 

¹⁰ …the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
    and they exist because you created what you pleased.”     NLT

 

Most likely, you’ve never experienced worship like this before. But when we come together to worship God, we are in His presence, just like John’s vision. There may not be strange looking creatures or a throne surrounded by gemstones or lightning and thunder; but, be assured that your Heavenly Father is there.

 

So the next time you have the opportunity to choose what’s behind the door that has flashing lights with heavenly and earthly beings in it, choose that door. You’ll win an eternal prize beyond your wildest imagination.

 

 

 

 

Father Knows Best

Colossians1:15-23

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201%3A15-23&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 50’s there was a popular TV series called, “Father Knows Best”. It was about an idealized family where the Father, as the title indicates, would always have good advice for his three children. In fact, he was the one that the family would look to for leadership, stability and wisdom.

 

That was how I looked at my own Father. I put him on a pedestal as if he were perfect. In fact, in my eyes, he could do no wrong. When he spoke, I listened. It doesn’t mean I always obeyed, but I certainly considered his word the truth.

 

The Colossian believers were struggling with who Jesus was. False teachers were leading them astray. They were making Jesus into something less than who he really was. So Paul wrote this about him.

 

¹⁵ Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation ¹⁶ for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.        NLT

When I read this passage in Colossians with my Dad in mind, it could be describing him from my childhood perspective. However, as the years passed I came to realize that my Dad wasn’t perfect; he was only human, with human weaknesses.

 

In reality, we all desire someone or something to fill this role of perfection in our life. Someone to believe in who is larger than life; someone to believe in who is god-like in our eyes; someone to believe in that loves us unconditionally.

 

¹⁹ For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ… ²² now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.  NLT

 

Thankfully, even though Jesus was fully human, he was perfect. Because of this, we know that he loves us unconditionally; is always with us; will never forsake us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is bigger than life and more than worthy of our love, our trust and our worship.

 

Indeed, it is our Heavenly Father that knows best. Let us come into his presence holy and blameless.