Chaplain Jill’s Devo
On the Mountain and Below
(Read Mark 9)
Reflection on the passage:
For mountain-lovers like me, the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place to live. When the clouds move aside to reveal them, the peaks of the Cascades and Olympics fill the horizon with majestic beauty. Trails up into these wondrous mountains abound for those of us who love to hike. How much more wondrous it must have been for Peter, James, and John to accompany Jesus on a hike up a high mountain in which they glimpsed His surpassing glory. Yet once back down from the mountain, the disciples continued to be challenged in their faith and understanding.
Up on the mountain, Peter, James, and John got to see Jesus transfigured into His glorified self, in dazzling white, talking with Elijah and Moses. Even more they heard God the Father speak from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (vs. 7). Jesus was revealed as greater than Israel’s greatest – Moses the giver of the law, and the Elijah, the great prophet. Filled with awe and very much in character, Peter spoke even when he didn’t know what he was talking about. He wanted to camp out right there on the mountain top – to stay in this amazing experience. I’m sure we can relate.
Even on the way down there were questions and confusion. Peter, James, and John couldn’t seem to take in the reality that Jesus meant it literally when He said that He was going to rise from the dead (vs. 9-10). And they didn’t yet understand that John the Baptist was the Elijah figure who came to point to the Messiah (vs. 12-13).
Once back down from the mountain challenges abounded. They walked right into the midst of an argument about the disciples not being able to heal a demon possessed boy. They struggled again to take in Jesus’ plain words about His death and resurrection. They argued on the road about which of them was the greatest. Finally, they were confused about what to do when someone who is not a disciple drives out demons in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, whether with them on the mountain or below, continued to patiently reveal Himself. He taught them about Old Testament prophecy regarding Elijah and the Messiah (vs. 12-13), about the importance of a prayer life when engaged in spiritual warfare (vs. 29), about the ways of the Kingdom where the first are last and the last first (vs. 35), and about the danger of hell for those who would lead little ones astray (vs. 42-43).
Jesus invites us on this discipleship journey as well, patiently teaching us both through amazing spiritual experiences and ministry failures, in times where God’s glory is revealed and when we feel lost in confusion and faltering faith. May we too “listen to Him” (vs. 7).
Focus verses and questions for prayerful reflection:
“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
(Mark 9:23-24).
Where is it difficult to believe right now – whether it’s an intellectual question or a situation in which you’re struggling to trust Jesus? Bring your mix of faith and doubt honestly to Jesus and ask Him to help you as did the boy’s father.
For further reading:
Read about Moses on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 24:12-18.
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