And after six days, Jesus took James, Peter, and John with him by themselves, and led them up a high mountain. And He was transfigured before them….- Mark 9:2

We ourselves heard this very voice borne of heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. - 2 Peter 1:18

It is on the mountain that we learn how to see Jesus. It is on the mountain that we learn how to worship Jesus. It is on the mountain that we learn how to listen to Jesus. Surely we can do these other places, but God calls us who draw near to Him up higher so that we can experience Him in fresh and new ways.

I haven’t been necessarily speaking of the physical mountain, but of the inner season and journey it represents. In the Old Testament, the “high places” were established for worship in various locations. Either false gods and idols were worshipped, or the Lord himself on these “high places”.

However, when the Temple was established, God desired the high places to be done away with, so that all people would come “up to Mount Zion” to worship the King of Glory. Unfortunately, many still set up high places to worship Baal and other false Gods. (2 Kings 14:4) Going up to the high places, and now, the long journey to Jerusalem was to be an act of humility, sacrifice, and dedication to go and worship on God’s holy hill, Mount Zion.

Then, when Jesus came, he spoke to the Samaritan woman in this way: “Believe me dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or [at the temple] in Jerusalem….For God is Spirit, and He is seeking worshippers who will worship in Spirit and Truth.” (John 4:24) What an amazing transition!

Look! He turns the worship from an outward requirement to an inward position! Notice that he did NOT say “worship by the spirit and by the truth”. We often try to acquire these things that we might “use them as tools” to worship God. On the contrary, worshipping “IN spirit and IN truth” are actual positions to God, just as the mountain was previously in the natural.

Instead of striving to obtain more “spirit” and more “truth”, the veil on God’s holy mountain has been torn asunder, that we might enter in to the spiritual reality of “spirit and truth” by His blood! By bold confidence and humble faith, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us “into” spirit and truth! By that inward positional reality, unattainable by even the most “self-righteous” individual, we are ministering to the Lord - becoming the exact worshippers “the Father is looking for”. No flesh can gain access there, it is by the Spirit in faith!

Who will come up to the mountain to see Jesus transfigured, hear His voice, and worship Him in His presence, which is “spirit and truth”? God is Spirit, and Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Life. Unlike here in Colorado, the journey is an inward sacrifice, for we must believe in order to see. We can not see and then believe, but by believing we have access to be positionally “in spirit and in truth” we are worshipping as the Father desires.

Therefore, let us lay hold of this place we have been granted, this free access to the mountain of God by His grace! Let us minister to God without fear, without striving, but with humble faith, true humility, and passionate joy out of His great love and provision for us to be the very thing He desires.

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may be stand in His holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols or swear by falsehood. - Psalm 24:1

The mountain is the place of true instruction and the giving of the pure Word of God. Moses was given the Law on the mountain, but not outside of encounter. It was in the midst of feasting in the glory of the Lord at the table of the Lord, seeing glimpses of His glory alongside the taking of the bread of God, the Word of God. (Exodus 32-34)

Friendship was experienced, and the heart (Word) was shared. Can we expect to partake of the same if friendship with God isn’t developed in our own lives? Thank the Lord, He is the pursuer of this friendship, this intimate partnership, the invitation of the Beloved is ever before us.

We, now, have the Word of God, the Bible, written before us. Can we then take it, making interpretation and application of it simply because it is complete before us in a canon? Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for taking the scriptures alone without engaging Him with and through them.  (John 5:38-39)

Just as Moses was given the Bread or Word of God on the mountain, we too are invited to partake of the Word of God, the Bread of Life, Jesus the Christ on the mountain. He pursues us in our lowliness that we might seek Him in His exaltedness. He cleanses us by giving Himself unto death and burial in the earth, that He might enable us to climb up the mountain and experience Him ultimately in heaven. Oh, this humble servant, this lovesick King!

We can limit salvation’s purpose and dishonor Jesus’ passion by not taking advantage of His gifts, righteousness and purity, the tools necessary to scale the mountain. Why yet abide in the valley of decision when we have, in Him, what is necessary to taste the fruit of glory on the mountain? Why walk by what we can see with our own eyes and understanding when we are invited to come up higher and see what and how He sees?

“Come up here! And I will show you….” (Rev. 4:1-2) Lord have mercy on theology based outside encounter. Lord have mercy on vision from lower than Your Holy mountain. “Get up to the mountain!”, says the Lord!

“Everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.” (Matt. 7:8)

Here I am, in Colorado at the end of May - absolutely loving it. Somehow, up here in the mountains, I really feel closer to the Lord. Last year I thought this was somehow just getting away from the norm, breathing the fresh air of a different spiritual climate. Although I think this is surely true, this year I find myself drawn into all that is “the mountain” and why God chose to create it.

After all, mountains are very important in scripture, used many times in various contexts, scenarios, and situations. I’m going to be studying some about “the mountaintop” this week and invite you to join me as you wish. Obviously, the mountain is geographically closer to heaven, but then again “the kingdom of heaven”, Jesus said, “is within us.” (Luke 17:21)

There is always much talk about “valleys” and why we go through them. We go through much discussion and study about the meaning of these times in our lives, and necessarily so. But I fear that perhaps, in the midst of this, the mountain is relegated to “that other time that is good”. Ironically, I believe a good study of the mountain (as a season as well as prophetic symbol) would actually help us gain perspective about the valley.

Perhaps we should meditate on the valley from the mountain as well as the mountain from the valley. In Joel, God calls His people to “get up to the mountain” that they might gain His perspective and His word for the hour. He wants them fully gripped with His heart, and He chooses the mountain to be the physical place for that encounter.

Expect more on this in the next few days, and as always, your feedback is greatly appreciated!