Mark 9:2-29, Up and Down the Mountain
Many of you know that I love spending time in nature. You’ve seen the places I go to film the videos I share with you each week, and they’re almost always in a forest, along the shore, or by the river. When I’m in those peaceful places, I can breathe deeply, have some prayer time with God, and turn my anxieties and stress over to him.
Later this week (I’m writing this on Monday), I’m looking forward to some extended time in nature with my family as we do a mini Spring Break family trip to Deer Isle, Maine, and Acadia National Park. While there, we hope to make our way to the top of Cadillac Mountain—one of the first places in the U.S. to see the sunrise. That would be a true “mountaintop experience.”
In this weekend’s sermon, our text lets us eavesdrop on one of the coolest mountaintop experiences anyone has ever had. Our reading will begin in Mark 9:2 as we see Jesus take his closest friends with him as he continues to unveil himself for them and as God speaks again as witness to the glorious identity of his Son. Is it more evidence intended to build up the faith of the disciples? Yes. Is it the last time they’ll need to be shown or told who Jesus is and what he’s come to do? Not even close.
I think we can empathize with that condition of almost always needing reminders and a little extra encouragement or a little more evidence so that we feel like it’s safe to really put our trust in Jesus. As humans, we always want more. But at some point, we just have to trust Jesus enough to take the next step of faith—even in the midst of our lingering unbelief.
Up and Down the Mountain, Mark 9:2-29
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