Tuesday, July 15, 2014

July 16, 2014

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  Matthew 17:1-4

Don't you love mountain-top experiences? Those are the times when God seems so real and faith seems so easy. 

The Bible has several significant mountain-top experiences:

1) Abraham took Isaac up the mountain to offer him as an obedient sacrifice.
2) Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai.
3) Elijah defeated the prophets of baal on Mt. Carmel.
4) Jesus was crucified on Mt. Calvary.
5) Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives.

But the transfiguration of Jesus was the mountain-top experience that Peter, James and John got to witness first hand. What a moment that was when they got to see the two most honored Prophets, Elijah and Moses, in addition to the glorified Jesus! 

Having seen this amazing divine manifestation, Peter was so blessed that He suggested to Jesus that all of them should just build a shrine up there and never come down the mountain. This new revelation of Jesus was spiritually filling and emotionally thrilling and they didn't want it to end!

What would you have wanted to do?

But Jesus wouldn't allow them to stay on that mountain and led them back down to ground level. As soon as they reached sea level they were immediately confronted with ministry needs once again. There were diseases to heal and demons to defeat and messages to deliver and those couldn't happen on the mountain-top.

What is the take away from this experience? How can you benefit from a mountain-top experience?

Jesus takes you up the mountain to give you a fresh vision of Himself so He can prepare you for fresh victories!

Jesus takes you up the mountain and glorifies Himself so you can come down the mountain and glorify Him!

Jesus takes you up the mountain to remind you Who He is so you can remember Him in the valley. Jesus is exactly the same at the bottom of the mountain as He is at the top!

Jesus won't let you live on the mountain-top but He will lift you there!