After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light… a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Matthew 17:1-8

I love the story of the transfiguration. I always have. As a kid, it seemed so futuristic- like Star Trek, only better because it was true. 

Jesus the carpenter spent about 3 years with a bunch of Palestinian fishermen, a tax collector, and an anarchist. Not exactly the top 2% of society. Early in his ministry, they walk on dusty roads from town to town in an almost carnival-like atmosphere listening to Jesus teach and watching him perform miracles. The teaching is extraordinary, but often hard to understand. It stirs their hearts, but what does it all mean? Who is this man?

“What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27), the disciples asked. Jesus’ own countrymen were certainly divided. Sure, some believed, but “many of them said, ‘He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?'” (John 20:10).

Even those closest to Jesus had their doubts. Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist while sitting in prison because of his own faithful witness for Jesus wonders if he made a mistake… “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? (Luke 7:19)” he asked.

The apostle John gives us a powerful but painful insight into the status of Jesus’ own family. “For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5).

The transfiguration answered all of this. Jesus is NOT confused, weak or deluded. He is NOT just a man, a good teacher, a healer or a fascinating entertainer. On the mountain, Jesus is King. His clothes shine, his eyes are like fire. He is powerful, He is eternal, He is Divine. No wonder the disciples were terrified.

Jesus returns to “normal”- veiled again in human flesh- and back into the valley they all go. The air is no longer crisp and clear. There are more crowds, more difficult teaching, more wrangling with unbelief. There is conflict, struggle and questions… “Why doesn’t Jesus just unleash his power? Why not settle things once and for all?” 

But those disciples remember the mountain. Having been there, the valley will never look the same again.

The valley is where we live the majority of our lives. It’s filled with disappointments and struggle. I get tired of the valley- life is often fuzzy and frustrating. I wish God would “come through.” I wish I could see him more clearly. 

But I believe in the mountain. I’ve been there. I believe.