It was late afternoon when the Lord Jesus took three disciples with Him and climbed a path that led up to the heights of a nearby mountain (Hermon?). Alone, yet with 3 witnesses nearby, He was to experience one of God's greatest doings on earth.
It has often been that way. For example, accompanied only by his young son Isaac,the appointed sacrifice, Abraham alone climbed Mt. Moriah. Surrounded only by sheep at Mt. Horeb, Moses alone spoke with God at the burning bush. And on higher ground east of the Jordan River with only Elisha to witness it, Elijah alone rode a fiery whirlwind to heaven. Likewise the Lord Jesus at the most solemn turning point of earth's history was alone with three chosen disciples accompanying Him. Some company they were, for soon they lay fast asleep. But slumber had not yet overtaken them.
They climbed the mountain to pray (Lk.9:28). No doubt the Lord Jesus prayed with them. But more, the Lord Jesus prayed for them that their eyes, so often dulled by foolish human notions, might be opened to see God's higher glory. And undoubtedly He prayed for Himself, that He might remain calm and still in peaceful surrender to His Father's will, for so much lay ahead of Him.
The Sabbath sun had set and a refreshing cool hung in the summer air. From every part of Israel, snow-capped Mt. Hermon could be seen, rising some 10,000-12,000 feet above the plain. From Jerusalem to Jericho in the south, from Samaria to Nazareth in the center, to Capernaum and Bethsaida in the north, the great Hermon towered over all. And now it stood right before them in the wondrous magnificence of an evening sunset.
In it a transformation of colors took place. First rose colored, then dark red, then grey shade, and finally black darkness descended. Here and there the silvery moonlight glistened off clumps of summer snow that remained. To the east the lights of far away Damascus twinkled on the shadowy plain. To the south the greenish-yellow hue of the Sea of Galilee shimmered. To the west the reddish tip of the sun slid into the Mediterranean Sea, as the remaining light of day went out like a spark. Overhead the summer sky twinkled as one by one the stars in Eastern brilliancy emerged.
We don't know the direction the climbers took, nor how far their journey continued. But as they ascended in the cool of that summer Sabbath evening, the keen mountain air refreshed them. The scent of melting snow and its taste on parched tongues renewed them. Finally they stopped; the time of prayer began.
For a while they prayed together, but soon Jesus prayed alone for, exhausted with the climb, the eyes of these men of simple habits grew heavy with sleep (Lk.9:32). After such an arduous journey, drowsiness crept over their limbs and senses. Their slumber didn't last long, for one of the greatest spectacles ever seen on earth aroused them. At the event their eyes sprung wide awake.
What they saw was their Master transformed in appearance right before them. The image of almighty God shone through His human form of a humble servant. His face blazed like the noon day sun. Indeed, His entire body from head to toe was bathed in inexpressible light. His clothing glistened whiter than the snow on which the moonlight fell. But the most remarkable part of it all was not the light; it was what they saw and heard.
Moses! Elijah! Without a doubt it was they. Never seen before by these lowly fishermen, but immediately known by them. (Does that, dear friends, tell you something about recognition in heaven?) The two great prophets of the long-distant past, arguably among the two most important in Israel's history came to Jesus and talked with Him in their presence. Awestruck they listened.
One of the speakers had been the irrefutable leader of God's people, charged by God with taking them out of the depths of slavery in Egypt. He freed them from their bondage to a new life in the Promised Land. The other was commissioned by God in Israel's worst moment to lead His people back to Him when they fell away. Through his preaching he prepared the way for the Kingdom of God to come. The disciples saw them, souls and bodies long gone to heaven (2 Kings 2:1f; Jude 9), appearing in heavenly splendor – a slice of heaven brought down to earth. And they heard them; they heard two great saints talking with Christ about His upcoming death, resurrection, and ascension. Who better to speak about it than the two who most experienced similar things?
But wait, the night of glory was not over. The formation of a cloud had been building over the summit. It was no ordinary cloud, but a luminous one with a burning glow emanating from its center and filling the entire cloud with light. It was the same cloud that became a pillar of fire by night, leading the Children of Israel through the wilderness to their homeland. It marked the Presence of the holy God among His people, revealing yet concealing, filling them with courage and confidence. It now overspread the disciples, the shadow of its light falling on them. A nameless fear gripped them. Yet, while trembling at the same time they longed to grasp this sight and cling to it forever.
Never had such heights of glory been seen by man on earth. This is the stuff only angels are privy to, not mortal beings. If only they could perpetuate this wonderful vision. So it was that in the confusion of their terror and in the ecstasy of their delight of standing in the presence of heavenly visitors, the disciples didn't know what to say till Peter burst forth: “Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three shelters so that we all can stay.”
Ah, he didn't know what he was saying (Lk.9:33). How can one stay in the presence of heavenly things when heavenly things can't remain in our world? Even as Peter spoke the light-cloud spread and fell around them. Heaven's awe settled upon them. And a voice from the cloud commended and commanded: “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”
Powerful, majestic, authoritative it rang out. The disciples were thrown to the ground, face down in the dirt, shaking in worship and terror (Mt.17:6). Then silence fell, thick as the night. How long it lasted, they couldn't tell. But a touch upon their shoulders roused them (Mt.17:7) It was the gentle, healing touch of God's Son, the same touch that soothed the sick and calmed the distressed. It was the hand of their Jesus and His voice assured them. “Get up and don't be afraid” (Mt.17:7). Startled they looked about but there was no one there – only their Jesus. The heavenly visitors had gone, the glowing light cloud had vanished, the echoes of the celestial Voice had faded. It was night, night on the mountain. There with Jesus, and with Jesus alone.
Had it been truth or falsehood; reality or dream – or part of both? But in their minds and hearts there was no doubt: heaven had been brought down to earth for just a moment of time and their Jesus was indeed the One whom He said He was – the divine Son of God. Of this they couldn't wait to tell the rest until their Master commanded, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
So that's what they did. They told no one how they had been on the heights of glory and back again . No one had ever seen what they saw and heard what they heard. But they told no one for the present, as Jesus commanded. Sometimes it is not the right time to tell about the Savior until He makes the right time known. But later when the price of death for sin was paid, and the resurrection to the hope of life was done, and His ascension to the seat of power wielded for the good of His people was complete, they told. And how they told of their trip to the heights of glory and back again .
Peter exclaimed: “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain” (1:1:16-18).
Then John told what this meant to him when he said: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us…Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete” (1:1:1f).
As for James, he didn't get the chance to write about it for not long after Jesus' ascended into heaven, James was martyred for his faith and witness to Christ. Then he got to see and live that glory again, forever, above, translated to the highest heights of it all..
And now all three are there, together with Moses and Elijah and believers of all times. They know what that glory of the eternal presence of God is like forever and daily live it above, hour after hour, minute after minute forever – far more glorious than any earthly mountain could portray. They stand on the heights of glory forever and will never come back to this.
God grant the same for us as we heed the words of one who was there on Hermon and now in Heaven, Peter. He encourages: “But you have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
That star, that light is none other than Christ. Believe on Him, dear friend, as these men did and one day you too will tread the heights of glory that are above. God grant it to us for Jesus' sake.