Matthew 17:1-6 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
Background:
We read in Matthew 16:13 that when Lord Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, whom do men say that He (The Son of man) was?
His disciples replied Jesus saying that some said that He is John the Baptist, while some others said that He is Elijah and others said that He is Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Jesus then asked his disciples, “But, whom do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of living God.
Caesarea Philippi:
A Roman sanctuary, which included temples and ritual courtyards, built near the sacred grotto of the Greco-Roman God Pan. The ancient city named after Pan, was located to the south of the springs.
This city was originally known as Paneas (also spelled as Panias) because of the temple erected there to Pan a god of shepherds and flocks, a different version of Baal-gad (a god of good luck), Canaanite’s god.
According to Greek mythology, the Pan god is depicted as half-human, half-goat (it’s upper body and head like man, while standing on its hind Goat legs and also having goat horn on its head) playing flute. His pipe-playing was believed to entertain the dancing goats. At the bottom of the cave, there was a deep chasm/fountain with a spring. As a part of Pagan worship to Pan god, which started from the Hellenistic period – 3rd century BCE, sacrifices were thrown down into this deep chasm. If the sacrifices sank into water, they believed that their offering was accepted, else they would repeat the sacrifices and if signs of blood appeared, then it was considered as that their sacrifices were rejected. This Deep chasm/fountain was called the Gates of Hades/Hell (Gate of Underworld).
In 20th BC Herod the Great, rebuilt the Temple in honor of Caesar. 18 years later Herod’s son Philip inherited the site and named it after him as Caesarea – Philippi.
During the time of Hebrew Bible, before Banias became associated with Pan, the northeastern corner of the Kingdom of Israel was a center for Baal worship. In the nearby city of Dan, 6 miles to the west, Israelite king Jeroboam built the high place that angered God and eventually led the Israelites to worship false deities. In the due course, worship of Baal morphed into the worship of Greek fertility Gods. Baal-gad (Joshua 11:17, Judges 3:3) a city in North Palestine was named after his name. (“Baal’ Lord of good luck” or ‘Baal is God’)
This was the place where the deep Chasm/fountain called the Gates of Hades was present. It was this very place where Jesus questioned his disciples about whom people thought He was and also said to Peter that the gates of Hades will not overcome.
Matthew 16:28 Jesus said, ‘Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming His kingdom.”
Luke 9:27, 31 Lord Jesus demonstrates the Power of the Kingdom of God using a vision of his Heavenly glory to strengthen the faith of the Apostles.
Matthew 16:18 – 19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
- Expresses His divine nature and magnification of His glory (Philippians 2:5 – 11).
- Moses and Elijah appeared on either side of Jesus and talked about His death. Moses as the fulfillment of law and Elijah as the fulfilment of prophesies of old testaments to give us grace, mercy, and peace.
- It was an inauguration of New Covenant and presenting Jesus as High Priest to us.
- It teaches us the transformation of Humanity to His glory and the transfiguration of mortality to immortality. (I Corinthians 15: 52, II Corinthians 3:18).
Matthew 17: 5 – 6 1 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid
- “Hear Him”, the Him represents Christ’s supreme authority.
Read Luke 9:28 – 36
Luke 9:28 – 29 28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
Mountains can be a place where we see the glory of Lord Jesus.
The Lord is seeking to take us all to the Mount of His Glory, so that we’ll see the glory of the Lord and witness the glorious works of Christ.
What a marvelous revelation we will receive of Him on the Mount of His Glory, which is our Mount of Transfiguration.
- Climbing up to the Mountain of Prayer:
Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; John 6:15 speaks about how often Jesus climbed the mountains and prayed.
In I King 18:42; I King 17:1 We read how Elijah climbed up Mt Carmel and prayed for rain. And there was no rain for three and half years. He then again prayed earnestly, and God sent rain.
Prayer transforms us.
Without prayer life, we will be unable to understand the burden of others.
e.g High priest Eli misunderstood the burden/agony of Hannah. (I Samuel 1:14)
Simon did not fathom the brokenness of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet. (Luke 7:38)
Gehazi did not comprehend the Shunammite woman’s turmoil but Elisha. (2 King 4:27).
In Mark 3:13-14; Luke 10:1à we read how the Lord went up on the mountain and called His disciples to himself giving them authority.
At times, Mountains can be a place of temptation and testing but it’s the place to ground us in Prayer.
- Climbing up to the Mountain of Good News
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Romans 10:15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
The coming of the swift-footed messengers of the gospel of the kingdom of God is beautiful.
We are called to share the good news about Christ wherever we go, to different workplaces, neighborhoods, schools and campuses and to the different countries he has scattered us.
For this ‘Goodnews’ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
The outset of the runner seen on distant mountains dashing closer with long-expected good news is lovely to the sight.
The feet of the Gospel givers are appealing because they are close at hand with good news of peace, hope, salvation and God’s sovereign rule.
- Climbing up to the Mountain of Building Church
Haggai 1:8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.
We read in I king 5:1 – 8 that Solomon brought in the timber from Hiram and built the Temple of God.
God has called us for ‘His Work/ Purposes’.
‘Gods cause’ needs work to be done completely and not stopped because of the obstacles faced while executing ‘God’s work’.
Even Solomon, first built ‘the Temple of God’ before building his own palace.
As William Carey’s motto says,
“Expect great things from God;
Attempt great things for God.”
- Climbing into Upper room to get the Anointing of Holy Spirit.
Act 1:13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James, son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
The Disciples of Jesus who were all together in the Upper room, were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance on the day of Pentecost. Peter (who had once denied and betrayed Jesus in Caiaphas’s house) stood up and preached with anointing from the Holy Spirit. About 3000 souls received Salvation that day.
This Upper Room experience demonstrates the great ‘Move of God’ and the ‘Immediate impact of the Holy Spirit’.
And also, one of God’s palpable Presence, Salvation, Celebration and Joy.
- Climbing the Mountain for Higher /Intimate Spiritual experiences.
Exodus 24:1 à Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance.
- Firstly, (Exodus 24:9, 10) all the 70 elders of Israel went up and had “a vision of God.”
- Secondly, (Exodus 24:12, 13) Moses and Joshua went up on the mountain and obtained the Law and Commandments from God.
Exodus 24:12 à 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
- Thirdly, (Exodus 24:15) Moses further went up and saw the “Glory of God”.
Exodus 24:15, 16 à 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.
Each of us should encounter these Intimate spiritual experiences. (Revelation 4:1; Philippians 3:10 -12)
Thanking God for the Mountain of Calvary, where He delivered each of us from all our sins.
Believe and climb the Mountains of the Lord that He has kept for us and we’ll find His Glory on top of each one.
God Bless you!
Shekinah Assemblies of God 