Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. – Exodus 24:15 -18
The Sunday before Lent is known as Transfiguration Sunday. It is on this day that we recall how Peter, James, and John followed Jesus to the top of the mountain and there they saw a vision of Jesus, together with Moses and Elijah. The very appearance of God's servants was changed as God revealed himself in that place. A similar event took place while Moses was leading his people through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.
God told Moses to go up to the top of Mt. Sinai, where he would give him the law. There Moses met God and received the law plus a whole lot more. In the three chapters of Exodus, following Moses meeting on the mountain, we find the specifications for the building of the tabernacle. Today we would give that job to an architect. But God also gave Moses a set of laws for building the new nation. Today we would form a constitutional convention for that purpose. We are also told that when Moses came down from the mountain, the people were already in rebellion. And so Moses, together with Yahweh, used these new laws to deal with the people. Indeed Moses' experience on the mountain was of a highly political nature. The people had to be prepared for the creation of a new nation and for their final journey into the Promised Land.
Shortly after the description of Jesus' transfiguration Luke tells us that Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem. Now he will make that final journey to an encounter with the leading political figure of his day, namely Pontius Pilate. There he will be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. Rather than taking on the Roman legions with legions of angels to redeem Israel, he will humbly die upon the cross, and give his life for the creation of what will eventually be called the church. His teachings through word and action become the new law for the church. Just as the people of Israel followed Moses and their new law in the creation of a new nation, we in the church follow Jesus and take up his cross for the furtherance of his kingdom.
Prayer: God of the ages, just as the children of Israel and later the disciples waited at the foot of the mountain to receive Moses and Jesus respectively, so we wait at the foot of the cross to receive your Holy Spirit. Like those of old, we too are in rebellion. We will soon put on the ashes of repentance. May we truly turn our lives around and walk boldly in the journey with Jesus as we set our faces toward Jerusalem. Keep our feet firmly on the path and lead us into your kingdom. Amen