Pastor Tom Johnson, February 19, 2012
I wonder…how would Andrew, Thomas, Matthew, Judas, and the other disciples feel about not being included in this mountain top experience? Were they denied a full revelation of who Jesus is? Would they feel cheated by missing this sensational experience? Have you ever felt left out in the doldrums of the valley while family and friends share their stories of God leading them up a spiritual mountain? Have you heard extraordinary stories of how God has made himself known in their lives; but you have yet to experience such compelling evidence?
I believe that one of the greatest moments in this passage of holy Scripture is the interruption of this mountain top experience and abrupt plunge back to normal altitude where we all live—the normal, seemingly ordinary Christian life. As soon as God speaks from heaven, Moses and Elijah disappear, the cloud vanishes, and Jesus’ clothes are back to normal, earthly colors. Just when their vision reaches the height of sensationalism, things quickly go back to normal.
Why were only three chosen for this moment? And why was the vision so brief and fleeting? Why couldn’t this vision be a permanent and convincing argument for the reality and presence of the Kingdom? Why can’t God always speak to us audibly from the heavens? Why doesn’t God just write the Gospel in the sky?
God simply says, “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!” “This Jesus is the promised Messiah,” God says, “and the eternal Son of God. He is my chosen One. He is the object and the conduit of my love. Listen to him. Draw strength from his words. Let his Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.”
The very first words out of Jesus’ mouth for them to listen to are words about resurrection—not to tell anyone about what they had seen but to wait until he had risen from the dead. And as they come down from the mountain, they question—they ponder—they wonder “what this rising from the dead could mean.” They hear Jesus’ words. But they do not completely understand. There are still unanswered questions. But his words have stuck. His words about rising from the dead have been planted into their hearts. And they are letting that Word take root—even though it is mysterious and their understanding is incomplete.
I think this means that Peter, James, and John have done exactly what God has told them to do—to listen. To listen means to hear and take it to heart. To listen is what Mary did when the Shepherds told her of their vision of angels and said her Son is the Savior, Messiah, and Lord. She treasured those words and pondered them in her heart. To listen to Jesus is to live our lives by the light of his Word. Listening sometimes results in more unanswered questions. Listening may include struggling with what God is saying. It is not always easy to understand Jesus’ Word—but it nevertheless gives strength, meaning, and comfort.
Listening to Jesus’ Word may not be as sensational as mountaintop experiences and as extraordinary as a vision of the Messiah and Prophets in their glorified bodies. But it is no less a work of God. God’s Word goes out as a sure and certain message and means of his grace. Listening to the Word is where our heavenly Father directs our attention—not to great visions and breathtaking experiences—but down here in the lower altitude with the Word of God.
As Psalm 23 says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff of Jesus and his Word are always with us—to guide and protect our spiritual lives. As Peter later says after hearing many of Jesus’ words, “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” To listen to the Word is a spiritual journey of trust in God’s Son—who died and rose again for us. “This rising from the dead” was for us and where our journey and ends and begins.
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