Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. // Luke 9:28
I have climbed a mountain once in my life. During a post-college trip to Ireland, my friends and I climbed Croagh Patrick, a beautiful mountain range in the town of Westport where Saint Patrick fasted for forty days during Lent around the fifth century. Thrilling yet a little scary, beautiful yet breathtaking, it was one of my favorite memories of Ireland. I still have the eleven-pound rock from the summit that I carried down with me.
Recalling my own mountain climbing adventure, I wonder what it must have been like for Peter, John, and James to share a glorious mountaintop experience with Jesus. Mountains in Scripture hold a lot of spiritual significance. Often when God moved or spoke, it was on a mountaintop, like Moses receiving the Ten Commandments.
When Jesus took His three closest disciples to the top of Mount Tabor, He knew He would reveal Himself in a mighty and glorious way to them. But the thing about a mountain is you always have to come back down, returning to the people, situations, and life you are living. We are not meant to live the whole of our relationship with Jesus in the sweetness of mountaintop experiences. We have to return, continue our daily work of building the Kingdom in our lives, just like the disciples had to return back to their families and way of life.
The whole of the Christian life is filled with highs and lows, mountains and valleys. Jesus wants to go with you and me into each of those places. He will meet us in the tender moments on the mountain top, and He will be walking with us in the lowest of valleys.
Take some time today to reflect and remember your encounters with Jesus, those high in the mountains and those in the lonely valley. Where was He in each of those experiences? Can you find Jesus there with you?
Keep climbing. Keep moving forward.
Jesus wants to go with you. // Patty Breen Click to tweet
Patty Breen serves as Ministry Formation Manager of Ascension Health and writes online in several different spaces. Her loves include CrossFit, writing and speaking, strong cups of coffee, Ignatian spirituality, and loving on her godchildren, niece, and nephew. Patty is passionate about messy and deep conversations at the intersection of faith, culture, and ministry. Find out more about her here.
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