Jesus took just a few of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, with him up a high mountain by themselves.
I believe that is exactly where Jesus wants to take us this morning. He wants to take all of us here this morning, who represent just a few of his disciples in this world, up a high mountain.
Up high to a sacred, transcendent place where we can see the world around us more fully; and thus, see ourselves more honestly and see Jesus more abundantly— Up high to a holy place where our eyes are magnified, and our senses are heightened to a brand new, illuminated reality.
And there, by ourselves, Jesus wants to spend some very intimate moments with us. He wants to personally speak to us, speak to our hearts in a way that will transfigure us, transform us, change us forever.
So, this morning, right now, I want to invite you to take Jesus by the hand, and just for a few moments, leave behind your world, all your troubles and burdens, all the plans that you have already made for this day, even for this hour, and allow Jesus to take you up high to this place that we all need to go.
So, let’s go. Let’s take his hand and walk with him. Although we do not know exactly where we’re going, and although we do not even always fully understand who this Jesus is who is leading us, let’s just follow—let us faithfully, and even somewhat fearfully, follow our Lord as he leads us upward.
As soon as we get to the top, somehow, some mysterious way, although it is beyond our mortal comprehension, it is revealed to us that this Jesus is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures. He is the culmination of the Law and Moses and the messages of Elijah and the prophets. For a moment, however fleeting, our eyes see it. And our ears hear an affirmation. It is inexplicable, yet undeniable: A divine affirmation that he is none other than the beloved Son of God sent into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:17).
It is a magnificent scene. We are standing in the very majestic presence of the Holy One,—the creator of all that is. We are enveloped by Love, Love’s self. We are so enamored that we want nothing more than to make this place our home.
As we are begging to stay, we are interrupted by what first sounds like thunder. In our fearful silence we hear three words from heaven that we’ve have heard before. In fact, we heard it the very first time we met this Jesus, the first time we heard Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell his story, the first time we heard him speak, but this time we hear it even more convincingly, more credibly and more divinely: “Listen to him.”
The words are so real and so true, that even if it is just for a moment, all of our doubt vanishes, as we recognize that these three words, this holy command is the key to not only our salvation and the salvation of all humanity, but it is the key for the redemption of all creation.
We cannot help but to fall to the ground. Awe and fear and wonder paralyze us. Unable to move, barely able to breathe, our heart feeling like it is about to beat out of our chest, his hand reaches out and touches us. A peace beyond all understanding overshadows us (Phil 4:4). And we look up and the only one we see, the only thing we see is Jesus…like we’ve never seen him before.
And we listen to him as he looks us in the eyes, calls us by name, and fulfills the holy scriptures in our hearing by saying:
I am your God, and I am Love. In love, I created you and formed you with my own hands. Before you knew me, I knew you; and before you loved me, I loved you (Jer 1:5). I love you with all that I am, with a love that is without conditions, without reservations and without limits (Rom 5:8). Please understand what this means. I do not love you like the Pharisees who say that they love you but hate your sin. For my love does not keep a record of wrongdoing (1 Cor 13:5). Please know that in my eyes, your sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) and my love for you will never end (1 Cor 13:8).
Listen to me, you must know that there is absolutely nothing in all of creation, in heaven or on earth, not even death, that can ever separate you from my love (Rom 8:39).
Please do not doubt that I will never leave nor forsake you (Deut 31:6). I am the God of love, mercy and compassion. I am the God of empathy and grace. I love you with a love that cannot be earned and can never be forfeited simply because you are my beloved children (2 Cor 6:18).
You were created by me, you came from me; therefore, like branches to a vine (John 15:5) you are a part of me. And when your journey of life on this earth ends, you will return to me. Listen to me, for I want you to continue this journey consciously with me, alongside me. Because I want you to forever be with me, so close to me that you always know that my grace envelops you, my love enfolds you (Luke 13:34).
I know all of your thoughts. I hear all of your words. I see all of your actions. I am aware of all of your inactions. I know the best you. I know the potential you. And I know the worst you. And I even know the potential evil within you. And I love you. I love you because you are beautiful, made in my own image, an expression of my most intimate love (Psalm 139 and Gen 1:27).
Please do not judge yourself. Don’t ever do that. And never let the judgment of others bother you. Let my love touch the deepest, most hidden corners of your soul and reveal your own beauty, a beauty that you have lost sight of, but which will be revealed to you again in the light of my grace (Psalm 139:7).
Listen to me. For I want this to be the very heart of your faith in me. Your faith is not about right beliefs or even right actions. Your faith is not about being against this or that, nor is it about being for this or that. The core of your faith is about your identity, your very being, as my beloved child, as a part of me (Gal 2:20).
This is the joy of living in the Spirit. This is what you taste even now on this mountain. My face shines. Even my garments are aglow. For my heart, my core, my very being is infused with the love of God, and so is yours. Listen to me, and your face will shine also (Gal 5:16-26).
Listen to me. Take and eat, for this is my body broken and given for you. Eat, chew, swallow my love for you. You don’t have to fully comprehend it, just accept it, eat it, let it go into your body and always remember that you are what you eat (Matt 26:26). You are my body. Remember, when Saul was persecuting the Church, I asked him, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” For you are the embodiment of my love in this world.
Take this cup and drink. Drink my grace. Consume my forgiveness. And then be what you drink. This is your identity. This is who you are. This is how you live. Live in the Spirit of my love that is inside of you, apart of you, and you will bear the fruits of that Spirit (Col 1).
I know that this world is fragile and fragmented. Death, divorce, disease, discrimination, bigotry, violence, greed and the lust for power are everywhere. But listen to me. So am I. I am everywhere suffering with you. When you weep, I weep (John 11:35).
But I am also there resurrecting, redeeming, restoring, re-creating. I am everywhere working all things together for the good. I am everywhere wringing whatever good can be wrung out of every tragedy. I am everywhere in this world transforming despair into hope; transfiguring brokenness into wholeness, and changing death into life, because I love this world and every creature in it. That is why I am here (Rom 8:28).
It is also why you are here (John 20:21).
So, come closer to me, let me wipe away your tears (Rev. 21:4), let my mouth come close to your ear and say to you again and again, I love you. I love you. I love you. Let me say it until you not only believe it, but become it, be it, live it. Let my love flow through you (John 15:5).
We say, “Jesus, it is good that we stay here forever!”
But Jesus responds by telling us what we already knew. It is now time to come down from the mountain. But unlike the time the first disciples who went with him to this sacred higher ground, Jesus tells us to share this experience with all people (Matthew 28:19).
As we walk down the mountain with Jesus, we ask: “Why did you want Peter, James, and John to wait to share their experience until after your death and resurrection?”
And Jesus responds:
My love for you and for this world is so deep, my grace is so wide, my mercy is so high that no one would believe it unless God did something absolutely earth shaking (Eph 3:18).
To reveal the height the breadth and the depth of God’s love for this world, God came into the world offering the world the very best gift that God had to offer. God came into the world knowing that people, especially the people who claimed to be the people of God, would not receive that gift and would nail that gift to a tree. And God would resurrect that gift giving that gift right back to the very ones who crucified him (John 1:11).
Thus, revealing to all of creation, that if God can turn around the killing of God, then there is nothing that God cannot turn around. If God can resurrect, redeem, restore the killing of God, then there is hope for us all (Rom 8:11).
And with all of creation, we are changed. We are transformed. We are forever transfigured (2 Cor 5:17).
Just Love 