Mountaintop Real Estate

Scripture/introduction

Matthew 17:1–9 NIV

1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Pray.

Asbury Seminary

On Wednesday February 8th the students of Asbury University gathered for what seemed like a normal scheduled chapel service at 10 am. There was a normal speaker planned and normal worship leading. I watched the sermon later and it was pretty normal. The only thing worth noting is the call for young people to experience the love of God if they want to be able to love in the way God calls us to. There was a call for response and some did.

picture.

But then God moved in a way that was anything but normal. Students got to class and numerous reports of a burden to go back to chapel. Many told their professor they just had to go. This is unique because it is a faith based Wesleyan college with required chapel. Required chapel means many find ways not to be there, haha.

Second picture

Since then they have had 24/hr 11 day move that has people from around the world pilgrimaging to Wilmore Kentucky.

Testimony of

outpouring of love

peace

crying and worship

prayer

people not wanting to leave

8-10 hours passing like 20 minutes

Salvation

freedom from sin

awakening to God

physical, emotional, spiritual healing

healing from anxiety

calls into ministry.

A faceless movement of Generation Z college students with ripple effects to dozens of college campuses. This is an extraordinary move of God.

It is interesting that we had this text chosen weeks ago for Transfiguration Sunday to talk about an extraordinary experience that a few of the disciples would experience.

They would have their own revival experience.

Revival on the Mountain

But let’s set the scene.

Matthew 16 is in some ways this hinge point of the gospel of Matthew. Up to this point, Jesus has been in full form with public ministry. From calling the disciples to sermon on the mount, public miracles of the feedings of thousands. Calming the storm, healing parlyzed man, freeing people from the demonic. Matthew 16 has Jesus in an intimate setting where that question of “who do you say that I am” is put before the disciples.

Peter confesses, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Then verse 21:

Matthew 16:21 NIV

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter responds understandably desperate.... and then he is rebuked by Jesus.

So you have the proclamation of the suffering servant and a call put upon the disciples:

Matthew 16:24 NIV

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Then 17:1

After 6 days (a way of linking these passages together) Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on the mountaintop. and they are invited to see something that is absolutely wild.

In a moment, Jesus is “Transfigured” and begins to shine white as light. I am not going to pretend for a moment to understand what is happening here. This is a revealing of power, glory, of a future heavenly presentation. Transfigured is used in a lot of translations mainly because of it’s uniqueness.

Next to him is Elijah and Moses, heroes of the faith. Representing the law and the prophets. How does the disciples know who they are? Not sure they had portraits hanging in their study.

And hilariously Peter says… “Lord it is good for us to be here, I will build three shelters.”

Let’s have a sleepover. Mountaintop real estate. Let’s move in.

This is the profound response of one who is experiencing something very deep. He was just rebuked because though he knew the right answers, he didnt see the full picture of Jesus. I believe Peter is responding in confession and repentance here.

Is there any doubt to why he would want to build shelters?

To be in the manifest presence of God makes everything else fade away very quickly. Why would you go anywhere else?

This is some of the testimony coming from Asbury.

So what is going on here? How might we receive instruction from such a mysterious part of our scriptures? Well, let’s make some observations:

Extraordinary move of God

God is the initiator

Jesus is the one who takes them on the mountain. They did not wake up this morning and think… Jesus, we would like to give the mountaintop transfiguration a try today. It would really strengthen us for all this “take up your cross” stuff.

It was a normal chapel, a normal preacher, a normal wednesday.

There is no working formula for this. God will not and cannot be manipulated.

2. We are drawn to the Holy

Jesus brings community on that mountaintop. The extraordinary is a communal experience. Even if it is just a few people, this is typically how God will move. I think it is incredibly gracious that Jesus didnt just bring Peter. And I love that the community just wants to stay there.

This is why there are tens of thousands of people going to Wilmore and social media is going crazy, we are drawn to the holy. From most that have observed, no matter the depth of faith, this is right, good, beautiful, transcendent.

3. Extraordinary move of God is at the intersection of the crucified one and the glorified one

On this mountaintop we have blending of two realities of Jesus: The suffering servant and the glorious messiah. Remember Jesus has just confessed the reality of his journey. Much to the disdain those around him, he is headed for a death. These two pictures are side by side for reason.

Revival, outpouring, extraordinary, whatever we call it..... it requires both understandings of Jesus.

revival includes both the understanding of atonement/forgiveness/righteousness through Jesus and Jesus’ reign above all things as Lord

revival includes brokenness at the foot of the cross and freedom found at an empty tomb

revival includes confession of sin, repentance, laying down wrongs and the proclamation of faith in Jesus

revival on any scale, requires humility and seeking faith

The one who loves you, took our stripes, took our shame, took on evil, and died the sinner’s death. The one who loves you has also vindicated death, evil, sin, and he is the Lord of all. Breakthrough is found at the intersection of this reality.

Now you might be thinking, ok but what if I never have what they have in Wilmore? The other disciples didnt get to go up on the mountain with Peter, James, and John.

Faith is built in the ordinary

I want to pray for revival. I want to yearn for that and I want our young people to lead the way. And we will. But I love the practicality of the story in Matthew.

They have to come back down the mountain and face reality of life. There is still demonic, evil, brokenness. And sometimes it looks as if we can’t do anything about it.

God does come in extraordinary means, some of us need to ask if we believe this.

God also comes in ordinary means and this is our discipleship journey.

Ordinary means of grace are the regular avenues that God has given us so that we can walk with Jesus:

The Lord’s supper

scripture

prayer

service

community and worship

Do you know what is also required in all of these? What also is the undercurrent of each one?

The suffering servant and the glorious messiah.

It is scripture where we root ourself in the life, death, resurrection mission of God in Jesus.

It is in prayer that we attach our life in humility to the holy one and experience intimacy with the one on the throne

it is at the table where we quite literally meet with the crucified and enthroned one.

It is in service that we practice cruciformity and self giving for others because of Christ’s lordship and love for the world

It is in community that we are drawn to the holy.

As we pray for revival. As we pray for our young people. As we pray for love to pour out. As we pray for it here. Some of us need to pray that scriptures would grab a hold of your heart again. Some of us need to repent of our apathy in worship.

The one who loves you is here. Let’s close in prayer.