Mountaintop Experience
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, as we turn to Your Word, open our hearts and minds by the power of Your Spirit. Shine Your light upon these Scriptures, that we may see Your truth clearly. Speak to us, challenge us, and transform us, so that we may not only hear but also live out Your Word in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Have you ever had a moment so incredible that you wished it could last forever?
When I was growing up in Korea, most Christian retreat centers were in the mountains. Twice a year—summer and winter—our church groups would head up there for retreats.
During the day, we had fun—playing games, hiking, and bonding with friends. But at night, everything changed.
We gathered for praise and worship, listened to powerful preaching, and then had long, intense prayer meetings.
One of the most unforgettable moments came when they sent us out to pray alone—at night, in the mountains.
At first, it was terrifying. The darkness, the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees—it felt like I was completely alone.
But as I looked up, I saw the stars shining so brightly in the sky. In that quiet moment, I felt the presence of God so deeply, so intimately, as if I could reach out and touch Him.
It felt like I was standing in a holy ground, closer to God than ever before. And honestly? I didn’t want to leave. After three or four days in that environment, going back to my normal, everyday life felt disappointing — almost like a letdown.
Maybe you’ve felt that, too. After working on an exciting project, after a dream vacation, a fantastic honeymoon, or even a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit, you just don’t want the moment to end.
That’s exactly what happens in today’s passage. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain, and they experience something beyond words—something so glorious that Peter wants to stay there forever.
But as we’ll see, Jesus had other plans. Mountaintop experiences are powerful, but they’re not meant to last forever. They prepare us for what comes next.
Before we dive into today’s passage, let’s take a step back and see what had been happening leading up to this point.
At the beginning of Luke 9, Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. Then He sent them out to preach the good news of the kingdom of God.
Imagine how thrilling that must have been for them! They went out, performing miracles in Jesus’ name, and came back overflowing with excitement, sharing stories of their victories.
Meanwhile, word about Jesus was spreading fast, even reaching Herod, who was confused and curious about Him.
Then, Jesus had a private time with His disciples. He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They gave Him all kinds of answers — John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets from long ago.
But then Jesus made it personal: “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter, in a bold moment of faith, declared, “You are the Messiah of God.”
It was a powerful confession. But right after this, Jesus told them something shocking.
For the first time, He predicted His suffering and death — saying that He would be rejected, killed, and raised again on the third day.
The disciples couldn’t fully grasp what He meant. It didn’t fit their expectations of the Messiah. They were still trying to process all of this when today’s passage takes place.
In verse 28, we read that about eight days after Jesus’ previous teaching, He took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.
While Matthew and Mark also record the Transfiguration, Luke uniquely highlights that Jesus went up specifically to pray.
This is significant because, throughout Luke’s Gospel, major moments in Jesus’ life often occur during or after prayer. And that night on the mountain, something remarkable happens.
As Jesus prays, His appearance is transformed—His face changes, and His clothes become dazzling, like a flash of lightning. Suddenly, two men appear in radiant glory—Moses and Elijah!
Why these two? Why not Abraham, Samuel, or David?
Because Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets—the entire Old Testament.
This moment reveals that everything in Scripture has been pointing to Jesus.
After His resurrection, Jesus would explain this very truth to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, beginning with Moses and the Prophets (Lk 24:27).
He also declared in Matthew 5:17, “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.”
But what were they discussing? Luke tells us: they were speaking with Jesus about His “departure”—His coming death in Jerusalem. The Greek word used here is exodon—the same root as Exodus.
That’s a powerful image. Just as God, through Moses, led His people out of slavery in Egypt, now, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He is bringing the ultimate deliverance — freedom from sin and death.
This is a new kind of exodus, one that will change history and transform lives forever.
Meanwhile, the disciples struggled to stay awake. And honestly, who could blame them? They had climbed a mountain, it was late, and exhaustion had set in.
But as they awoke, they were met with a sight beyond anything they could have imagined.
Jesus stood before them, radiating a brilliance they had never seen. His face glowed, His clothes shone with dazzling light, and He was speaking with two of the greatest figures in their faith.
Overcome with awe, they could only watch in stunned silence at the majesty before them.
We don’t know how long the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah lasted, but as they were about to leave, Peter couldn’t help himself.
He blurted out, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us set up three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Luke makes it clear—Peter didn’t really know what he was saying. Maybe he was trying to hold onto the moment, desperate to preserve this extraordinary experience.
It was as if he were saying, “Let’s stay here forever. Let’s keep this mountaintop glory just as it is.”
But in suggesting three shelters, Peter unknowingly put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. He recognized Jesus' greatness, but he still didn’t fully grasp who He was.
Jesus wasn’t just another great figure of faith—He was infinitely greater.
Then—God interrupted.
A cloud descended and covered them, surrounding them in its shadow. In Scripture, the cloud often signifies God’s presence.
Exodus 40:38 says, “The cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all Israel throughout their journeys.”
As the disciples stepped into this thick cloud, fear gripped them. And then, they heard a voice—the voice of God Himself:
“This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”
Sound familiar? We heard something similar at Jesus’ baptism when the heavens opened and God declared, “You are My Son, whom I love; with You, I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).
But there’s a key difference.
At Jesus’ baptism, God’s message was an affirmation directed to Jesus, declaring Him as God's beloved Son and showing the Father's approval of His mission.
Here, on the mountain, the message is for the disciples: ‘This is My Son. Listen to Him.’
God’s declaration not only confirms Jesus’ divine identity and supreme authority but also calls us to do more than admire Him—to trust, obey, and follow His teachings in every aspect of our lives.
The mountaintop experience was marvelous, but they couldn’t stay there. They had to return to the valleys of everyday life, where faith is tested, and discipleship is lived out.
And the same is true for us. As much as we long to hold onto those mountaintop moments, we are called to listen to Jesus and follow Him—especially when it leads us back into the challenges of daily life.
In verse 37, we see Jesus and the three disciples descending the mountain, only to be immediately confronted by a crowd and a desperate situation.
A father, crying out in anguish, pleads, "Teacher! Please look at my son—my only son! A spirit seizes him, causing him to scream, convulse, and foam at the mouth. It never leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn't."
Jesus rebukes the evil spirit, heals the boy, and returns him to his father. The crowd stands in awe of God’s power.
The three disciples had just experienced a profound encounter with Jesus on the mountaintop, filled with glory and supernatural revelation.
But that mountaintop experience led them right back into the valley, where real-life struggles and pain were waiting—people in need of help, hope, and healing.
We all crave mountaintop moments with God—times when His presence feels overwhelming, renewing, and empowering.
Those moments shape us and strengthen our faith. But we aren’t meant to stay there.
Like the disciples, we are called to descend from the mountaintop and enter the valley—the place where the hurting and broken await God’s love.
The mountaintop shows us God’s glory, but it’s in the valley where we live out that glory, putting our faith into action.
Today, as we worship together in one Spirit—lifting our voices in song, praying as one body—have you felt the presence of God?
Have you seen His face reflected in the face of another?
Do you come to church because, somehow, in this sacred space, you feel good? And then what?
God’s call is not for us to stay here, keeping the experience to ourselves, but to go—to our unbelieving family, our lonely neighbors, our heartbroken friends, our suffering communities — carrying His light in our words and actions.
We are not meant to remain within these walls but to bring the glory and grace of God to those who desperately need Him.
In a moment, we will come to the Lord’s Table. As you receive His invitation to the Lord’s Table, remember—His love has transformed you. His sacrifice has redeemed you. His resurrection has given you new life.
Let us pray together as a church, seeking God’s vision for how we can be a reflection of His glory—a people who bring hope, healing, and transformation to our community and the world.
The grace, the love, the glory of Jesus—they are within us. May His light shine through us.
Let us pray.
Loving God, You call us to follow Jesus—both to the mountaintop, where we glimpse Your glory, and back into the world, where we are needed. Help us not to cling to the heights but to carry Your light into the valleys, serving those around us with love and compassion. And as we walk this journey of faith, may we keep our eyes on the eternal glory You have prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.