An old professor of mine, and by that I mean he was my professor a long time ago and was also pretty old at the time, once said to me, “Pay attention when Scripture leads up to a mountaintop, for God does big things on mountaintops.” That has proved to be sound advice. In fact, even today, in normal conversation people will occasionally speak of a moment in their life as a “mountaintop moment.” It is a moment which is unforgettable, a moment when things change, a moment that powerfully impacts your life. Mountaintops themselves are pretty awesome places to be. Many times, throughout my days backpacking in the backcountry, I have been inspired and captivated by the view from a high, mountaintop pass. Standing in a place where you look down on the clouds, a place where only a small percentage of the population has stood, is truly incredible.

On Horeb, the Mountain of God, a young Moses was shepherding the flocks of his father-in-law, when he sees the strangest sight. A bush is on fire, yet the fire is not consuming the bush. As he approaches the baffling spot, he is shocked by a voice saying, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” There, God calls Moses to be His instrument, to bring the children of Israel out of the house of slavery. Through the coming exodus of the people of God, we learn this is not the last mountaintop moment for Moses. On a mountain, he will receive from God His decrees and promises, as God speaks with Moses for the blessing of His chosen ones.

The prophet Elijah is also familiar with mountaintops. He begins on Mount Carmel, where he challenges the prophets of Baal. Each constructs an altar and then prays to their respective deity to consume it with fire. The true God responds with power and might, leading to the destruction of the false prophets and making Elijah public enemy number one. He flees into the wilderness, tired and worn out. He prepares to die when the Angel of the Lord comes to him, feeds him, and leads him to Horeb, the Mountain of God, the very mountain where God spoke from the burning bush. Then, he lodges in a cave and is summoned again. Before him, he witnesses strong winds shattering rocks, an earthquake shaking the foundations of the mountain, and a fire devouring the landscape, but God was not in any of them. Finally, a tiny whisper was heard, and there he found God. A Word that called this faithful prophet to deliver His people, not from foreign slavery, but from the slavery of idolatry and false teaching.

Today, all of this ought to be on our minds as we hear about our Lord leading Peter, James, and John up a mountain. God does big things on mountaintops. Up they go, and the excitement builds. Up they go with the Son of God. Every step brings them closer to a moment they will never forget, a moment we still honor today. For today is Transfiguration Sunday, where our Lord seems to pull back the veil of His humanity, revealing a glimpse of the glory which is rightly His. His face is altered, and His clothes shine like lightning flashes.

And who should show up, but Moses and Elijah. Moses, who famously prophesied in the book of Deuteronomy and said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to Him you shall listen.” Here he is, deep in conversation with Jesus, who is shining in magnificent glory. And then there is Elijah, the bold and daring prophet. In fact, the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi, ends with a prophetic word saying, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Elijah joins Moses in speaking with our Lord on the mountaintop.

Notice what they are speaking about. They are talking about His exodus, His departure which will take place in Jerusalem. This means His sacrifice is the focus of this meeting. For all of His glory on display at this moment, the goal is not to stay there, not to remain in splendor and majesty, but to continue on toward suffering and death. Perhaps the Transfiguration serves as a reminder for us of the depth Christ’s love for sinners like us. This is no mere man. He is the culmination of God’s promises to a world lost in the grip of sin and condemnation.

Of course, Peter responds like all of us would have in such a moment. He does not want to leave. He does not want to move toward Jesus’ departure, toward the cross. “It is good, Lord, that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” To capture the glory, to hold on to it, to make it the rallying cry of the followers of Jesus is what we deeply desire. To find the great workings of God in suffering, to take up our cross and follow Him is not what we really want. Let us just stay on the mountaintop!

But our hopes and dreams of keeping this moment forever are silenced by the presence of God. At the very moment Peter is speaking our desires, a cloud comes and overshadows them. This, too, is rich in Old Testament imagery. It is the appearance of the presence of God, and they are rightly afraid as they enter the cloud. Here they are, Moses and Elijah, a transfigured Jesus, and the very presence of God, and then he speaks. We read how a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” Whatever else you desire, whatever else you are searching for, you are to listen to the Word of Jesus. His voice is the voice of life. His Word is truth and righteousness.

The whole history of God’s saving work, the great story of His people’s deliverance from slavery and the bondage of sin and idolatry is honed down and focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ. When the Father makes this proclamation and the disciples lift their heads, they no longer see Moses, they no longer see Elijah, the cloud itself has disappeared, and Jesus is found alone. Jesus remains to do the work, to be the sacrifice, to teach and reconcile the people of God. Listen, then, to Him. Listen to Jesus alone, for His Word continues to speak to you. He says, “I have done it for you, for your life, for your salvation. You are forgiven. You will join me in eternal glory.”