Week of Feb. 20
“Glowing, Fading, and Mountaintop Experiences”
(2 Kings 2:1-12, Mark 9:2-9)
Have you ever had an experience that made you “glow?” Maybe what might be called a mountaintop experience? You know-a sense of being filled with excitement and awe? I believe we have two such experiences described in our passages today.
From 2nd Kings we find the famous prophet Elijah and his “understudy” Elisha; it is apparent that Elijah is going to be leaving the scene, despite Elisha’s protests. Before Elijah departs, Elisha requests “a double portion of his spirit.” This may strike us as an odd request, until we are reminded that in that day, it was typical for the eldest son to receive a double portion of the inheritance so that the work of the father would continue through the eldest son. Elisha asked for a double portion of his mentor’s spirit so that he would be empowered to carry on the work of his spiritual father (Elijah.) After this request was made, Elijah is described as being taken away in a fiery chariot, which is another way of describing Elijah being taken away in the presence of God, since the presence of God is often symbolized by fire. I suggest to you that Elisha was likely strengthened by this “mountaintop experience,” strength he would need as he took over for Elijah while ministering to a troubled world.
We find another mountaintop experience described in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus is transfigured in front of Peter, James and John. To put this experience in context; just before this happened Jesus asked the disciples who people thought he was, then he asked them who they he thought he was. After all, with all Jesus had been doing (teaching, healing, miracles) the whole countryside was buzzing about him, while likely questioning who he was. After Peter answered Jesus with “you are the Christ,” Jesus took the three disciples with him to the mountain, where they witnessed his transfiguration, saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah, then heard God’s voice proclaim “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Talk about a mountaintop experience! I believe the disciples must have been awed and encouraged by this experience; as I picture them coming back down that mountain with Jesus, I can imagine them “glowing” with excitement and strength. And of course, they would need that strength for what was ahead for them-dark and difficult days of ministry as they journeyed toward Jerusalem and Jesus’ trial and death, with all the fear and uncertainty which came along with those events.
Along with Elisha and the disciples, I also remember Martin Luther King Jr. during this month, which is Black History Month. Martin Luther King delivered a famous speech called the “Mountaintop Speech” the night before he was assassinated. In this speech he proclaimed “We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter to me now; because I’ve been to the mountaintop! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!” The words from this speech remind us that Martin Luther King Jr., like Elisha and the disciples, had a mountaintop experience which strengthened and encouraged him during his days of incredibly difficult ministry to our nation. We too, need to both create and stay connected to our mountaintop experiences so that we will be strengthened for our discipleship. We create mountaintop experiences by experiencing the presence of God through worship, prayer, the scriptures and fellowship.
We would do well to remember these passages this morning which describe mountaintop experiences, and how we may be strengthened by them as we seek to be faithful to our call as disciples of Jesus.