It is going to be in the low 90's again today, but the humidity is 10% lower than in previous days, so even 90 won't seem so bad. But, it is NOT COLD!!! And so, I was drawn to this picture of a man on a high mountain. Cold- you bet!!! You can tell that from the snow, the altitude and the clothing he is wearing. You know, there is just something special about mountains; a certain undefinable draw that tells you something wonderful lies up there- something marvellous. And this tale of a mountain-top experience does not disappoint!!!
Matthew 17:1-8 NASB
(1) Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
(2) And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
(3) And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
(4) Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
(5) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
(6) When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.
(7) And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid."
(8) And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
(1) Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
(2) And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
(3) And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
(4) Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
(5) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"
(6) When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.
(7) And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid."
(8) And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
Matthew 16:13-28 NASB
(13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
(14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
(15) He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
(16) Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
(17) And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
(18) "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(19) "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
(20) Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
(21) From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
(22) Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."
(23) But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
(24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
(25) "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
(26) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(27) "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
(28) "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
(13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
(14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
(15) He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
(16) Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
(17) And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
(18) "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(19) "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
(20) Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
(21) From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
(22) Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."
(23) But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
(24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
(25) "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
(26) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(27) "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
(28) "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Jesus chose ordinary men; like those you might meet everyday- hard-working people. And in Chapter 17 we find that Jesus takes his "inner circle" of disciples up to a high mountain. While there, the father attests to Jesus' sonship and commands that they listen to HIM!!! I wonder- why? I think the answer is found in the previous chapter (16). Jesus asked who they thought he was and Peter made his now famous confession. But, then Peter rebukes Jesus and in turn is properly put in his place. Or is he? Jesus said the correct thing, but somehow I don't think Peter really heard him. The "inner circle" needed something more to really believe and that's what the mountain-top experience really did. But, belief is more than just mental assent; it is a confident trust in God, which yields obedience to God's will. Forget your own interests; focus on listening to Jesus and actually do what he tells you to do.
Gary- This means you!!! (and everyone else as well)