Prepare for a mountaintop experience

In tomorrow's Gospel reading, Jesus is transfigured in a mountain top experience with Moses and Elijah visting him and disciples Peter, James and John looking on. In a sermon on this passage I once noted,

When the voice had spoken from the cloud, Peter, James, John realized that Jesus was now alone. Jesus who had come to complete all that was predicted by the Law and the Prophets was all done with looking back. Now was the time to look ahead toward the teaching and ministry remaining before his death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus’ transfiguration was far removed from the usual mountaintop experience where everything seems to come together. Jesus' experience on the Mount of Transfiguration revealed that glory lay on the other side of suffering.

The next time Jesus has a mountaintop experience, the mountain is Calvary and the mountaintop experience is that God’s Messiah, his chosen one is put to death. Instead of having Moses on one side and Elijah on the other, Jesus is crucified between two thieves. Below the cross, someone mocking Jesus cries out, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” But they had missed the point. The Messiah would suffer, die, and be resurrected before he came into his glory. The Law and the Prophets had told that it would happen this way.

Jesus' mountaintop experience in the Transfiguration did serve as a way to prepare him for the mountaintop of Calvary. This coming week will begin the season of preparation for Easter known as Lent. The glory of that celebration lies on the other side of the suffering of Good Friday. During this time, we look back on our lives and make adjustments as we move ahead with God toward the joy of Easter. We offer some information online about Lent, Keeping a Holy Lent, created to help you make the most of this time of preparation. I encourage you to consider now how you might keep this season in a way that will allow you to more fully experience the joy of celebrating Jesus' resurrection.

In the archives is the Tribune & Georgian religion column Preparing for Easter's Joy.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor