Calvary Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Debra May Cerra
February 3, 2008

Exodus 24:12-18 (NRSV)
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." 13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

“Mountaintop Experience”

Many of us have had them – those times we felt we were on top of the world. Things were going good, we were happy, and the concerns of life seemed insignificant. In those moments we were excited and alive. Everything seemed new or renewed or maybe even perfect.
Those moments can come any time or any place: at a graduation or a baptism; during your first kiss or your wedding day; at the birth of a child or even when you land that first job. That moment may come at a retreat or at church camp; that special time could have been while sharing with a dear friend or during an intimate conversation with your spouse. These “top of the world” moments can be found in a crowded room or a time of solitude.
We call these “Mountaintop Experiences.” And when we have one, how we hate to come down off that mountain! We want to hang on, to have the encounter last. We want to stop time – even for a brief moment.
It was almost 20 years ago but I can still recall the day in great detail. I was attending a conference at Princeton Seminary – a conference filled with inspirational speakers and wonderful workshops. I had signed up for an afternoon small group entitled “The Infilling of the Holy Spirit.” Not sure what it would entail, I entered the room with a bit of trepidation.
The speaker began with an introduction of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – citing scriptural references and defining each person of God. He then explained that the third Person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit – is the same Spirit that anointed Christ at His baptism. “And,” he said, “that same Spirit desires to anoint each of God’s children.”
After arranging the chairs in a circle, the leader began to pray for each one in the room, laying his hand on his or her head and asking that she or he be anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit. I watched – fascinated yet confused about what was happening. When it was my turn to be prayed for, my confusion had turned to fear. Thoughts were screaming inside my head: “Why am I here? Who is this Holy Spirit? What will I do if something happens? And how will I act if nothing does?”
Before I could move off my chair, the leader gently laid his hand on my head and began to pray. Though I didn’t experience anything tangible – no heat, no voices, no sensations at all – deep within my being my fears had been replaced with a calmness. In that room, I knew that God had heard the prayer and I believed somewhere in the depth of my soul that God would answer it.
But, you know, I almost missed claiming the blessing. It wasn’t until days later that I realized a transformation had taken place within me. I was aware of something different, maybe you could say there was a newness about my person. I can only describe it as an excitement and a sense of empowerment to do for the Lord. I know that in those moments of prayer at that workshop, I had indeed been changed. God took me to the mountaintop and embraced me with love and hope, joy and peace.
My life has not always been easy and my journey has had many wrong turns and even u-turns. But that mountaintop experience showed me the depth of God’s love and gave me hope – even these many years later. I have continued to experience the joy of the Lord and His peace that passes all understanding. And I continue to look for and experience those moutaintops. Through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, I was and continue to be renewed and strengthened, empowered and changed!
In our Gospel reading this morning, Matthew gives us his version of the event we know as the “Transfiguration of Jesus.” The Gospels of Mark and Luke also record this strange event, with some minor variations.
This is an accounting of a spectacular mountaintop experience. Matthew begins: “Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.” (1-3)
Glistening faces, clothes dazzling white, the appearance of Moses and Elijah – the descriptions of this experience tax our imagination beyond acceptance. And yet, this encounter gives more than just visual pictures to absorb. This was a time of confirmation and affirmation of Jesus’ ministry. For Peter, James, and John, it was a glimpse of the mystery of God, a reality that was typically just beyond their understanding.
In this story we also see the humanness of the disciples. About this experience, Peter begins to blabber: “‘Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?’” (4) You see, Peter saw this as a Mountaintop Experience. He wanted to hang on, to have the encounter last. Peter wanted to stop time – even if it was only for a moment. And so he proposed to do something ridiculous – to build three memorials.
Peter had the right idea about Jesus, but his timing was wrong. Peter wanted to act, but this wasn’t a moment for action. This was a time for worship and adoration. He almost missed claiming the blessing. Even while Peter was going on and on, “a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: ‘This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.’ When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death.” (5-6)
This mountaintop experience opened new understanding about Jesus. It affirmed Jesus as God’s Son. And it scared those disciples almost to the point of death. “But Jesus came over and touched them. ‘Don't be afraid.’ When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus. Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. ‘Don't breathe a word of what you've seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk.’” (7-9)
            Understanding their fear, their confusion, their need for reassurance, Jesus said. “Don’t be afraid.” (7) His words disclosed an unspoken message to those men: “I’m here. I understand. I know. And I love you.” It allowed them to experience the blessing. The transfiguration of Jesus was a mountaintop experience for Jesus – and for his disciples. “Jesus extended incredible grace to disoriented, fumbling followers. He showed divine patience with impatient, confused disciples.”
Former American hostage Terry Anderson had a Mountaintop Experience that not only changed his life; it gave him life: It was the autumn of 1984. Terry and his fiancé, Madeleine, were visiting her father in Sutherland, England. Terry looked forward to some peace and quiet from his hectic career as a journalist. He was so dispirited that it took him some days to settle down even in the pleasant atmosphere of this English hamlet.
As he walked through the streets with Madeleine, inhaling the crisp air, he noticed a church steeple outlined against the pale blue sky. Terry had been brought up in the church but had drifted far from God and, in his own words, considered himself an agnostic. That afternoon an old church in the neighborhood captured his attention. After a few days he decided to walk over to the church. He opened the heavy oak door, stepped in and sat down on a worn pew. Looking up at the altar and cross gleaming in the shadows, he suddenly had a strong sense of coming home. He knew that was where he belonged. Terry reaffirmed his faith that day.
For the next six months Terry wondered why he was drawn to that church. He thought perhaps God was calling him to do something. “But what?” he wondered. He was beginning to sense a closer relationship with God, when one morning on a street in Beirut he was shoved at gunpoint into the back of a green Mercedes. His face was pressed to the floor and a blanket thrown over him as the car accelerated. The date was March 16, 1985. While in captivity Terry began reading the Bible. The Bible characters came to life! He came to know them as living beings. It was his mountaintop experience that kept him alive when everyone else gave him up for dead.
Friends, you don’t have to look to the clouds to find your God given “Mountaintop Experience.” And I would venture to say that most won’t have glistening faces or dazzling white clothes. But, when you’re open to God, God will meet you right where you are, embracing you with love and hope, joy and peace. Jesus will extend incredible grace to disoriented, fumbling followers. He will show divine patience to impatient, confused disciples.
Even if you come with fear and trepidation, when you open your heart to God, you will be renewed, you will be strengthened; you will be empowered. Friends, your perspective on life will be changed! It could be during a prayer at a conference, while a hostage in captivity, visiting with a friend, or sitting in your family room - whatever the situation, God will hear your deepest cry; God will heed your greatest needs.
It may be simple; it might be mind-boggling – but don’t miss the experience of the blessing. Through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, invite God to meet you. You might just find yourself on a life-changing, mountaintop experience – an experience that will allow you to glimpse the mystery of God – a reality that is typically just beyond our understanding.