Glorious on the Mountain, Gracious in the Valley

02/15/26

His face shone like the sun … and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. — Matthew 17:2a; Luke 9:29b NIV

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” — Mark 9:2–7 NIV

“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” vs. 7b

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. — Mark 9:8 NIV

No one lives on the top of the mountain. It’s fine to go there occasionally -for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That’s where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That’s where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks. —Arthur Gordon Webster.

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. — Mark 9:14–15 NIV

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder… vs. 15

The stories are connected because the God who we experience on the mountain top is the same God who walks with us in the valley.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? — Mark 9:16-19 NIV

22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” — Mark 9:22 NIV

23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” — Mark 9:22 NIV

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24 NIV

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. — Mark 9:25-27 NIV

…Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. — Mark 9:27 ESV

The God we meet in moments of glory on the mountain is the God who walks with us through moments of desperation in the valley.

Pastor Jon Verwey

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? — Mark 8:34-37 NIV

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

To bind a Roman citizen is a crime;

to flog him is an abomination;

to slay him is like killing a relative;

to crucify him is—what?

There is no fitting word that can possibly describe so horrible a deed.

Whoever wants to save their life will lose it,

but whoever loses their life for Me and the gospel will save it. v. 35

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? vv. 36-37

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. — 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Jesus alone is worthy of our “everything”—because only He can turn it into something good, beautiful, and lasting.

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.

Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

…you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. — 1 Corinthians 11:28 NLT

Have I surrendered my life to Him—given Him my “everything”?

Do I believe all that we are remembering and proclaiming in communion?