I must admit that I have often thought Peter was a dork when he was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, James and John. Moses and Elijah showed up to converse with Jesus and when they were departing, Peter jumped in, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — because he did not know what to say.” [Mark 9:5-6 NKJV]
What was Peter thinking? –that the three of them could just stay on the mountain with Jesus for the rest of their lives?
When I woke up Thursday morning, I knew exactly what Peter was thinking. I wanted to be back up on the mountain with Jesus. The presence of our LORD was so vivid while there, so amazing, I wanted to build three tabernacles, booths, tents, anything to remain there with Him.
But just as Jesus, Peter, James and John had to come down off that mountain top to face what Jesus called a “faithless and perverse generation,” so we had to leave the mountain experience and come down in the valley to face the lost and wounded. [v41]
Mountaintop experiences are meant as preparation for service among those needing salvation. We aren’t meant to live there away from everything, but to allow the experience of the magnificent LORD to live in us even amid our own faithless and perverse generation.
Peter discovered the truth of that and shared it in his second letter … “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty … when we were with Him on that sacred mountain.” [1:16,18 NIV]
I caught a glimpse of His majesty at the prayer Summit. I’m back in the valley again … but I’d rather be on the mountain.
