“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying).”
-Luke 9:28-33
In many ways, I’m not surprised that Peter reacted the way he did. “Master, it’s good for us to be here.”
What would it have been like to be on that mountain and witness the transfiguration? And then to also see the biblical figures of Moses and Elijah—heroes of faith that we grew up hearing about?
It was good for them to be there, wasn’t it? Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ glory, power, and might as the Son of God. They listened as Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah and the two heroes of faith encouraged their Lord and Savior as he grew closer to completing his mission to save humanity from its sins.
Yes, it was good for the three disciples to be there. They needed that refreshment and revitalization ahead of some truly dark days . . . but it wouldn’t have been good for them to stay.
Jesus had to go down from that mountain so he could climb up another one—this time carrying the instrument of agonizing torture and death on which he would suffer and die.
Peter, James, and John had to go down so they could spread the gospel message about the Savior to the ends of the earth. They were eyewitnesses, as John wrote elsewhere. Eyewitnesses who were called to tell people about Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death, and triumphant resurrection—all for them. For you. For me.
None of that could have happened if they had stayed on the mountaintop.
The disciples should have remembered that glorious scene on the mountaintop when Jesus was being crucified. They should have realized that the Son of God who revealed his power and might to them could do what he promised. Jesus told them repeatedly over the past three years that he would have to suffer and die, but on the third day, he’d rise again.
Why did they forget?
In many ways, I can’t blame the disciples, because I do the same thing. I’ve heard and read the eyewitness accounts in the pages of God’s Word, and with Spirit-given eyes of faith, I have seen those same awesome events. But so often, I forget that God has control over everything, including what is happening in my life.
I forget that the God who revealed his glory on a mountaintop and then suffered and died on another mountaintop for the sins of the whole world is the same God who promises that he will be with me always, no matter where I go, no matter what happens in my life. I forget that he uses all things for my spiritual good, including hardship, suffering, and adversity. I forget that he overcame the world and because he has, I will too.
I forget. And maybe you do too from time to time.
How do we remember?
We remember by being in God’s Word, where we learn about the awesome glory of our God revealed to us in the pages of Scripture. We remember by seeing what God has done for us through our Savior, Jesus.
And we support one another, as the writer to the Hebrews encouraged Christians, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).
It’s absolutely good for us to be there, dear Christian. And then it’s good for us to tell others of the amazing things God has done for them.
When talking about God’s Word with other people, they often have questions. We do too. Your Questions, Scripture’s Answers is a handy resource with hundreds of questions from real people and real answers from God’s Word.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.
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