Luke 9:28-33
Encounter with God: From Mountaintop Glimpses to Pilgrims into Eternity – Luke 9:28-33
Luke 9:28-33 (NIVUK)
28 About 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. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)
Commentary
Revd. Mark Fletcher: It is a remarkable story. And I think these moments for the disciples have a clear purpose. That they are glimpses of what it is that they’re striving for and what they are seeking. That the journey of faith is never one of sitting still. We are always being called on to greater and bigger things. We are being called on to glory. Was it Hamlet who said there is more in heaven and earth than you have dreamed of? And Peter catches a glimpse of that. And I think it’s intended to stir his heart and to clarify his vision. And to strengthen him for what is to come. If he has caught here a glimpse of eternity, this is intended to prepare him for what is to come. And I think there are moments a little bit like this in the Christian life. That we need to catch a glimpse of something greater.
Take an example. We’re going to be celebrating communion tonight. And I love communion services. I think they’re really very special. They’re a really helpful reminder of Jesus’ death and passion. But there is this sense that there is something much greater happening when we share communion. There’s something profound and mysterious. We say of communion that it is a means of grace. That you are somehow blessed and bettered by taking communion. It’s not simply a memorial. There is an encounter with God to be had in the sacraments. Somehow Christ is present in this. As we come to communion, we come expectant that we actually meet with God in some way. Likewise, there are encounters with God to be had in the scriptures. And in prayer. In creation itself. We are called ever onwards deeper into what God has for us. We need pragmatic, hands-on Christians. We need biblically and theologically literate Christians. But we also need Christians who have caught a vision of eternity. Who can lead us deeper into that encounter with God. That will sustain us and fill us with life and joy. Whatever type of Christian you are, you need to become more. You should be growing and learning from others. We need to be shaken out of that which is comfortable. Challenged to a bigger vision of God. And a deeper understanding of who he is. We need to seek the presence of God in wild places. That which will sustain and envision us when we’re going through the hard times. We need that intimacy with Christ which is the very foundation of who we are. God has so much more for you. You are called to be pilgrims into eternity. And that’s a journey which starts now.