The Mountain Cannot Hold Us: Transfigured for the World

According to the Bible, mountains are places where humans encounter God. Events happen on mountains – Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all had significant interactions on mountains. Those who have climbed mountains know that getting to the top is challenging, yet the descent even more difficult. Descending puts strain on your knees, and slippery rocks might lead you to skid. The peak offers a moment of transcendent clarity, yet descending teaches us how to bring those sacred moments back into our everyday world. This mountain-climbing reflects our faith journey. We have “spiritual peaks,” but returning to daily life and living out that faith becomes the greater challenge. In today’s gospel, Jesus and the disciples’ encounter on the Mount of Transfiguration demonstrates this journey of faith.

According to Luke 9, Jesus led Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. This was no ordinary hike. A week before, Jesus foretold that He would suffer greatly and be killed, which perplexed the disciples. The Messiah they expected was a majestic ruler, not a suffering servant. Something incredible occurred while Jesus was praying on the mountain. His face transformed and His clothing turned bright white. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared, speaking with Jesus.

What thoughts might have filled Jesus’ mind? As we observe this scene, Moses, who witnessed God’s glory on Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, understood the sacred calling and fearful responsibility before him. In Mount Carmel, Elijah stood alone against 850 false prophets. He did this to show God’s power and to carry the heavy task to God’s people. What about Jesus? As both human and divine, what deep conversation might He have had with these great leaders about His coming suffering and death? Their discussion was likely far more profound than we could imagine.

What about the disciples during their encounter with God? They were going to sleep! When they woke up, they were shocked to see Jesus changed into something else. His face was as bright as the sun, and His clothes sparkled. He was talking to two legendary figures. Peter shouted out in shock, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter’s reply represents our own humanity. He desired to hold onto that glorious moment. He longed to capture that transcendent moment to preserve forever the peace, grandeur, and spiritual ecstasy he sensed on the top.

In his heart, he likely thought, ‘This is what true faith is all about. If only these wonderful encounters continue.’ But before Peter could finish, a cloud covered them and a voice proclaimed: ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ When the cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah had vanished, and Jesus stood alone. What’s significant is Jesus’ response to all this. He didn’t stay on the mountain or build the shelters Peter suggested. Instead, He went down with His disciples, going back to the world of everyday challenges and ministry. After the event on the mountain, Jesus and the three friends came down into a world of stark contrast. Let’s look together at Raphael’s masterpiece “The Transfiguration.” This classic Renaissance painting brilliantly captures both scenes of the event on a single canvas.

The upper part shows the glowing Jesus with Moses and Elijah hanging in a cloud of glory. Blow them, the disciples are speechless with shock. Take a look at the painting’s ground. Something very different is going on. A boy tormented by an evil spirit struggles and his father pleads for help. Jesus, fresh from the mountaintop, commands the spirit to leave, heals the child, and gives him back to his father. The crowd are amazed to see God’s power shown not in dazzling light, but in compassionate healing.

The Transfiguration story is all about this difference. On the mountaintop, there was glory and light, but at the foot of the mountain, there was suffering and the darkness of reality. And Jesus moved between these two worlds. He brought the light from the mountaintop into the world—showing that divine glory isn’t meant to be contained but shared with a broken world.

This is what it means to be transformed. We don’t see Jesus’ glory just for the spiritual journey. Rather, it’s about bringing God’s healing power into the heart of a broken world to restore it. The Transfiguration story would be lost if Jesus and His followers did not descend down the mountain.

I was reminded of the 9/11 terrorist attack in the heart of New York City. When the Twin Towers were collapsing, most people instinctively ran out of the buildings. However, firemen rushed in the opposite way, purposely going towards danger. They prioritised other people’s lives over their own. How about Jesus? He left the summit of glory to face reality, eventually walking to the crucifixion.

Paul says, “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” When Moses came down from the mountain, the glory of God shining from his face was so intense that the Israelites were afraid of him, so he had to wear a veil over his face. But in Christ, we can remove the veil and directly look at the Lord’s glory, reflecting that glory.

The conversation about ‘departure’ that Moses and Elijah shared with Jesus wasn’t merely consultation. It marked the beginning of Jesus’ journey toward the cross, resurrection, and ascension. This ‘departure’ holds meaning for us too. We also must journey from our spiritual mountaintop moments and return to the world. Here lies the true starting point of our faith journey.

We all climb mountains and make our way down. Our transfiguration moments include of worship services, prayer and insights from Scripture. But following such encounters, we must constantly come down from the mountain. Back to our homes, businesses, schools, and everyday connections. What may our ‘veils’ be today? Perhaps fear, prejudice, or self-righteousness that obscures God’s glory?

Where are you now? On the peak, or at its base of mountain? Are you having a good day or are you in the midst of life’s difficulties? Wherever you are, Jesus is with you. His glory surrounds you on the mountain, and His might is with you at its foot.

As I close today, I’d want to ask you: Where is the glory of Jesus has led you? And are you willing to go into what darkness with that glory? Do you wish to remain on the mountain like Peter, or are you ready to come down like Jesus?

The walk down the mountain stresses your knees and may cause you to slip. But that path leads to true transformation. It’s the journey that take us from glory to glory as we continue transforming the world.