God on the Mountain

What are the circumstances where you encounter God? What are the places where you encounter God? Can you encounter God in both good and bad circumstances? Can you encounter God in both high and low places?

Jesus’ disciples, Peter, James, and John encountered God on the mount of transfiguration. Like these disciples, we encounter God in mountaintop experiences.

We also encounter God in the valleys of life. The mountaintop encounters with God which we experience prepare us for the valleys we experience in life.

God meets us in every circumstance and in every place where we find ourselves.

The gospel of Matthew tells us, “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:1-2, ESV).

The disciples encountered God on the mountain. As Jesus was transfigured before the disciples they heard from God the Father.

Matthew tells us, “And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” (Matthew 17:3-8, ESV).

When we encounter God on the mountaintops of life it can be a terrifying experience and simultaneously a good and glorious experience. When the disciples encountered God on the mountain, they were both terrified and blessed by this encounter.

Later the Apostle Peter would write of this encounter with God on the mountain, saying, “For He [Jesus] received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Peter 1:17-18).

Peter spoke fondly of his encounter with God on the mountain, even though at the time he was terrified. Later, Peter described God speaking, saying, “the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory”. And Peter described the place of the encounter as “the holy mountain”. Peter described his encounter with God on the mountain as “Majestic Glory” on the “holy mountain”.

Like Peter, may we anticipate “Majestic Glory” on the “holy mountain” as we encounter God on the mountain and in the valleys of life.

A Collect for the Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration: “O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

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