Up on the Mountain to Pray

I was curious most of my life about a scene that is described several times throughout the Gospels. It is a scene that usually is mentioned kind of in passing, like after a period of ministry with the multitudes of people and is scantily described something like this, ‘and after this Jesus went up on the mountain to pray.’ I love watching Jesus manage time while training the disciples with Him to get away at times. There are those times when Jesus took the apostles to a secluded place to try to find some rest, and probably do some teaching so they would understand more about what He was doing. Jesus always went alone to the mountain though except for one time. This leaves this particular activity of His a little bit up to the imagination. But we all know that Jesus had an exceptional prayer life, right? I mean, when He came down from the mountain amazing things happened. The only time when it is recorded that He took others with him is in a story that we commonly call The Transfiguration. It is recorded in the Gospels written by Mathew, Mark, and Luke. I chose the account written by Luke and it reads like this.

Luke 9:28-36 (NASB)

The Transfiguration
Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

There are definitely some interesting things documented here and as I read the account again I paused at the end to take it all in. I think that there are times when there are so many facets to something that it is hard to focus on one thing in the moment. In this particular moment I felt like there was something I was about to see. I whispered, “Lord, what is it that I cannot see about this story?” He replied, “You think that this is the only time this happened.” Suddenly, my ideas began to shift regarding all the times where it says that Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and I began to view this event, not as a one time event, but as an event that Jesus left for us to have a glimpse of what happened when He went up on the mountain. When He entered into the Presence of His Father, Jesus’ clothes began to glow and His physical appearance changed because that is what a prayer time with God is supposed to look like. This event is recorded as an invitation into a powerful life of prayer.

I realize that for some this may be a real stretch because it is way easier to just get caught up in the supernatural events that are presented. I love the story for that reason too, but something changed in me that day. You know that Moses glowed too when he had been in the Presence. In Exodus 33:3 Moses prayed, “let me know Your ways so I can know You” and after that when he came from the Presence he glowed, so much so that he had to wear a veil because the people of Israel were afraid. This is the key though, we have to exchange our tepid lists of reasonable requests for desperate prayers to know Him. There are many recent examples of this within the Church. John G. Lake held deadly virus in his hand under a microscope and the medical scientists watched it die, Smith Wigglesworth would pray in a prayer meeting and the atmosphere would become so heavy that people would have to leave the room, and I hope that we all know at least one person who when they walk into the room something changes. These are those who seek to know Him.

It’s an open invitation to us today. For those who choose to go there this is an experience like no other. Set aside an hour or two to get into a quiet place and ask Jesus to take you up on the mountain to pray and He will take you there.

His Kid, Your Brother

Ken