Mountain
This was the place where the Divinity of Christ was revealed, just as the Word of God was first revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai…
In the Old Testament, we are told that Moses went up onto a Mountain – Mount Sinai – to see the Lord in the Bush that burned but was not consumed…
“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:2-5).
Later the ten Commandments were issued from that same mountain – not once, but twice, after Moses destroyed the first set of tablets upon descending and seeing the Israelites worshiping the golden calf.
In the New Testament, we are told that Christ was transfigured on an unnamed mountain…
“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. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’” (Matthew 17:1-5).
This mountain was unnamed. This was the place where the Divinity of Christ was revealed, just as the Word of God was first revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai…
In many ways that Word in the Old Testament, and the Word Made Flesh – Christ – in the New Testament, are the same. God revealed the ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai and on an unnamed mountain, Christ was revealed as God made Man, the Word Made Flesh.
And then later, on another mountain, Calvary, Christ’s true transfiguration takes place with me. Because Calvary is my Calvary. And my vocation is to take up my Cross and follow Him…
“They came to the place called Calvary (the head bone.) There they nailed the two bad men to the crosses also. They put one man on the right side of Jesus and one man on the left side of Him. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them! They do not know what they are doing.’ The soldiers played a game to see how they should divide his clothes. The people stood around watching. But the rulers made fun of him. They said, ‘He saved other people. He should save himself if he is God's Christ, God's chosen one!’” (Luke 23:33-35).
And if I were really to follow Him, I would need to climb my own unnamed mountain and witness to Christ transfigured there…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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