Still Shining

Mountaintop Moments: Beyond the Shine

Bible Passage: Exodus 34:29–35, Matthew 17:1–9

Summary: In Exodus, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai, his face shining from being in the presence of God, while in Matthew, Jesus reveals His divine glory to His disciples in the Transfiguration. Both moments showcase divine encounters that prepare them for their earthly mission and challenges ahead.

Application: This sermon helps Christians understand that while extraordinary spiritual experiences are uplifting, they are not the end goal. Instead, these experiences should prepare us for serving in the mundane and often challenging aspects of life, urging believers to look for God's presence and purpose beyond the mountain.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that the mountaintop experiences in our faith are important but serve a greater purpose in preparing us for the valleys of life. We learn that faithfulness is found not just in moments of awe but in everyday living as we respond to God's calling.

How this passage could point to Christ: The Transfiguration of Jesus illustrates the glory and divinity of Christ, revealing His connection to the Law and the Prophets represented by Moses and Elijah. This event signifies that the glorified Christ is preparing His followers for a purpose that involves suffering, service, and eventual glory.

Big Idea: Faith is not solely about basking in spiritual experiences, but is about embracing the calling to bring God's light into the world, even when the shine fades.

Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, consider exploring the context of Moses’ radiant face in Exodus 34 and how it reflects the covenant relationship with God. In Logos, you might look into commentaries that focus on the theological implications of the Transfiguration and its links to Old Testament prophecy. Don’t overlook the interpretations of how these two passages shape our understanding of glory in the Christian journey, particularly how they relate to suffering and mission.

1. Shining Presence Revealed

Exodus 34:29-30

Perhaps you could discuss how Moses' shining face resulted from his encounter with God, suggesting our spiritual encounters prepare us for greater tasks. This radiance wasn’t for Moses’ glory but to fortify him for leading the Israelites. Consider inspiring your congregation by showing them those experiences can illuminate their path, not just be moments to relish. In our everyday journey, we should seek reflection of God's presence and be prepared for the roles we must play in our communities, armed with divine influence.

2. Transformative Experience Effect

Exodus 34:31-35

Maybe highlight how Moses, after being with God, turned those moments of divine encounter into action, suggesting that spiritual experiences demand real-world application. Moses’ veil reminds us that it's not about displaying our experiences but allowing them to steer our interactions. This provides a platform to encourage believers to channel their 'mountaintop moments' into humble, everyday commitments, instructing on how visible changes should transform our character and mission.

3. Transfigured Glory Witnessed

Matthew 17:1-3

You could explore how Jesus revealed His glory at precisely the time to equip the disciples for the trials ahead. The presence of Moses and Elijah symbolized the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, showing Jesus’ centrality in God’s plan. Perhaps inspire your congregation, emphasizing that experiences revealing Christ’s glory are for deep-rooted encouragement for life's challenges, motivating them to keep His presence vivid in their lives as they engage with ‘valley’ struggles.

4. Purposeful Descent from Glory

Matthew 17:4-9

Perhaps evaluate Peter's reaction to prolong the Transfiguration, seeking to bolster how faith must transition from shining moments to mission. Jesus’ direction to descend from the mountain emphasizes moving forward with purpose. You might suggest that this moment challenges believers to discern when to cherish, move forward, and live out these divine revelations in community, focusing on living as Christ’s hands and feet beyond the shine of the moment.

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Introduction – Wrapping the Season

All through Epiphany we’ve been talking about seeing— seeing Christ more clearly, seeing ourselves more honestly, seeing God at work in unexpected places.

Today, that journey reaches its peak—literally—on a mountain.

Light. Glory. Radiance.

But Scripture is careful to tell us this: the mountain is never the destination.

The mountain is preparation.

And as we stand on the edge of Lent, that matters.

1. Shining Presence Revealed (Exodus 34:29–30)

Moses comes down the mountain, carrying the covenant—and his face is shining.

Not because Moses did something impressive. Not because he mastered holiness.

His face shines because he has been in the presence of God.

And Moses doesn’t even realize it at first.

Think about the last time you were with someone who had just spent time in God’s presence. They had a sparkle in their eyes and a joy that was contagious! They might not have realized it, but their encounter with God was evident. Much like Moses, who shined from his mountaintop experience, our personal encounters with God should shed light on our faces and lives, often surprising us just as it surprised him!

Preaching note: (Slow down here. Let the congregation sit with this.)

That’s often how God works. The people who have truly been shaped by God are often the least aware of it.

The radiance wasn’t for Moses’ ego. It was for Moses’ calling.

He had work to do. People to lead. Hard decisions ahead.

Mountaintop moments don’t remove responsibility—they strengthen us for it.

2. Transformative Experience, Lived Out (Exodus 34:31–35)

Moses eventually wears a veil—not to hide God, but to keep the focus where it belongs.

This is important.

The point of a holy encounter is not to display it, but to let it shape us.

There's a delightful tale of a man who went fishing and caught an enormous fish. When he returned, he couldn't stop boasting about his prize. But the true value was not in the story he told but in the lessons he learned about patience and humility by spending hours in peaceful reflection. It reminds me of the way our holy encounters are meant to guide us to deeper aspects of our character, similar to how Moses' face shone not because he wanted to impress others but because he had been in God's presence.

Human note: We’ve all known people who talk endlessly about their spiritual experiences—but seem unchanged by them.

Moses goes back up the mountain again and again, not to chase the glow, but to stay grounded in God’s direction.

Faithfulness isn’t flashy. It’s steady. It’s lived.

That’s a word for us as Lent approaches.

3. Transfigured Glory Witnessed (Matthew 17:1–3)

Now shift scenes.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up another mountain.

And suddenly—He is transfigured.

This moment is not random. It comes right after Jesus begins talking openly about suffering, rejection, and the cross.

God gives the disciples light before the darkness, not to spare them—but to sustain them.

Moses and Elijah appear—the Law and the Prophets—standing with Jesus.

When you bake cookies, there's always a time when the dough looks pretty ordinary. Yet, as it bakes in the oven, the aroma and transformation take place. This is like what happened on the mountain with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. It seemed random, but it served a purpose. Before facing the heat of trials, God provides moments of sweetness and clarity, reminding us that transformation is coming, just like cookies rising in the oven.

This is Scripture saying clearly: Everything God has been doing leads here.

And still, the voice says just one thing:

“This is my Son… listen to Him.”

Not understand everything. Not explain everything. Just—listen.

4. Purposeful Descent from Glory (Matthew 17:4–9)

Peter, bless him, wants to stay.

I once planned a picnic that was so perfect with perfect weather, delicious food, and great company that I thought, 'This needs to last forever!' Just like Peter, who wanted to stay on the mountain with Jesus and Moses, we often cling to our perfect moments. But life reminds us that while we can't always stay, we can carry those experiences in our hearts!

He wants tents. He wants permanence. He wants to freeze the moment.

But Jesus leads them down the mountain.

Because glory is not meant to be preserved—it’s meant to be carried.

And notice this: Jesus doesn’t send them down alone.

He touches them. He reassures them. And He walks ahead of them.

Imagine a group of friends hiking up to a beautiful mountain peak. They revel in the splendor of the view, taking countless pictures, wanting to preserve that moment of glory. But just as they begin to soak it all in, one friend says, 'We can't stay here forever!' They pack up and head down. Jesus is like that friend, reminding us that while glory is wonderful, our true purpose is to share it with others below. And like a good friend, He stays close, ensuring we're never alone in our journey.

Pastoral note: Lent is not about chasing suffering. It’s about following Jesus—honestly, humbly, faithfully.

Conclusion – Moving into Lent

Epiphany shows us who Christ is. Lent asks us whether we will follow.

Mountaintop moments matter. Worship matters. Clarity matters.

But faith is not about basking in the shine.

It’s about bringing the light into the valley— into ordinary days, hard conversations, quiet faithfulness, and costly love.

As we move into Lent, we don’t leave the mountain unchanged.

We carry what we have seen.

And we walk forward— listening, trusting, following Jesus beyond the shine.

Amen.

Closing Paragraph – Transition to Ash Wednesday

The light on the mountain does not disappear—it goes with us. But in just a few days, we will gather again, marked with ashes, reminded that we are dust and deeply loved. Ash Wednesday does not undo the glory we have seen today; it grounds it. It brings us back to the truth that transformation happens not in flashes of brilliance, but in honest repentance, quiet trust, and faithful following. We come down from the mountain not empty-handed, but carrying Christ’s light into a season that invites us to walk more closely with Him.

Closing Paragraph – Naming the Disciplines of Lent

Lent now invites us to practice what we have seen. Through prayer that listens more than it speaks, fasting that makes room for God, generosity that loosens our grip on what we cling to, and acts of service that turn faith outward, we follow Jesus step by step. These disciplines do not earn God’s love—they open us to it. As the shine fades and the journey deepens, may these holy practices shape us into people who carry Christ’s light faithfully, all the way to the cross—and beyond it, to resurrection.