“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” — 2 Peter 1:16
A few years ago, I stood near the summit of Pike’s Peak with my family when the air suddenly filled with a deafening roar. The crowd around us froze, heads turning in confusion and concern. Then we saw them—two fighter jets from a nearby airbase, screaming past us on a training run. The sound hit you in the chest. The speed defied comprehension. Standing on that famous mountaintop, watching those powerful machines slice through the thin air, created a moment I’ll carry forever.
That experience gives me a small window into what the biblical witnesses felt when they encountered God’s glory on mountains throughout Scripture. The difference? My fighter jet encounter was impressive technology. These witnesses saw the living God reveal Himself in ways that transformed human history. Today’s readings trace a remarkable journey: how the place where we witness God’s majesty moves from exclusive mountaintops accessible to only a few, to the pages of Scripture where every believer can make the daily hike to encounter Christ’s glory through the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 24:12-18 — Israel Witnesses Glory on Sinai
Moses climbed Mount Sinai while the people watched from below. The glory of the Lord settled on the mountain like consuming fire, visible to everyone in the camp. God called Moses into the cloud to receive the stone tablets, the Law that would teach Israel how to live as His covenant people. The elders accompanied Moses partway up the mountain, granted the privilege of seeing God’s glory manifest in physical form. For forty days and nights, Moses remained in God’s presence while the nation waited below. This moment established the pattern: God reveals His glory on the mountain, calls His people to witness, and gives them His Word. The Israelites saw the fire, heard the thunder, and knew they stood before their covenant Lord. Sinai became the place where heaven touched earth, where God’s holiness appeared in ways human eyes could see. Yet access remained limited—only Moses could enter the cloud, only the elders could approach partway, and the people had to keep their distance.
Psalm 2 — The Son Enthroned on Zion
The psalmist declares God’s response to rebellious kings and nations who reject His authority. Rather than showing fear or concern, the Lord laughs at their futile plotting. He has already acted decisively: “I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” The Father speaks directly to His Son, proclaiming the decree that establishes His identity and authority: “You are my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Zion replaces Sinai as the mountain where God’s majesty appears. The glory now centers on a person—the anointed King whom God has chosen. The nations serve as eyewitnesses to this King’s rule, and their only wise response is worship and submission. Those who trust in Him find blessing, while those who resist Him face His righteous judgment. The mountain of Law gives way to the mountain of the King, and the world stands as witness to God’s appointed ruler. The location shifts from Sinai to Zion, but the principle remains: God manifests His glory on the mountain for people to see.
Matthew 17:1-9 — Disciples Witness the Transfiguration
Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where something extraordinary happened. His appearance changed before them—His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus about what He would accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter wanted to build three shelters, to somehow preserve this moment, but a bright cloud overshadowed them. The Father’s voice spoke from the cloud, echoing the words of Psalm 2: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” The disciples fell on their faces in fear, and Jesus touched them, telling them to rise. When they looked up, Jesus stood alone. As they descended the mountain, Jesus instructed them to keep silent about the vision until after His resurrection. This mountain experience brought together all of redemptive history—the Law, the Prophets, and the Son who fulfills both. The three disciples witnessed what Moses saw on Sinai and what the psalmist proclaimed about Zion: the glory of God resting on His chosen one. Yet once again, access remained restricted to a select few on a specific mountain at a particular moment in time.
2 Peter 1:16-21 — Scripture as the Accessible Mountain
Peter writes as one who stood on that mountain with Jesus. He appeals to his eyewitness testimony, insisting the apostles proclaimed truth, having seen Christ’s majesty firsthand. They heard the Father’s voice on the holy mount, confirming everything the prophets had written. Then Peter makes a striking shift: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” He directs his readers to Scripture itself, describing it as “a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” The prophetic word remains reliable because it came through the Holy Spirit, who moved holy men to speak God’s message. Peter explains that Scripture requires the same Spirit for proper understanding—the prophecy came by the Spirit and opens to readers through the Spirit. The physical mountain where Peter witnessed Christ’s glory becomes accessible to all believers through the Spirit-breathed words of Scripture. Every Christian can make the daily hike up this mountain. You can become an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty by reading the Bible with the Spirit’s illumination. The trail stands open, the summit waits, and the Spirit guides you up to see the glory of Jesus in the Word.
Taking the Daily Trek to the Summit of God’s Word
Jesus descended from the Mount of Transfiguration and walked toward Jerusalem. He knew the cross awaited Him, and He went willingly. The disciples who witnessed His glory would soon watch Him suffer and die, then proclaim His resurrection to the world. We follow the same pattern on our daily hike. We ascend through Scripture, where the Spirit shows us Christ’s glory. We see Him as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, hear the Father’s declaration of love, and encounter His majesty in the written Word. Then we descend into our daily lives, carrying what we’ve seen. We model Jesus by moving from worship to witness, from revelation to service, from mountaintop encounter to valley ministry. The Spirit opens Scripture to us, we behold Christ’s glory on those pages, and we walk into the world changed by what we’ve seen. Tomorrow we make the hike again. Each time we open the Word, we stand as eyewitnesses of His majesty. Each time the Spirit illuminates the text, we experience the transfiguration anew. The mountain remains accessible, the glory remains visible, and the invitation remains open: come daily, climb through the pages, and see Jesus.
Points to Ponder
- When have you experienced something that gave you a glimpse of power and majesty beyond the ordinary? How does that experience help you understand what the biblical witnesses saw?
- How does the progression from Sinai to Zion to the Mount of Transfiguration show God’s plan to reveal Himself more fully through Christ?
- What does it mean that Scripture serves as the accessible mountain where you can make a daily hike to witness Christ’s glory?
- How does the Holy Spirit’s role in both inspiring Scripture and illuminating it for readers affect the way you approach Bible reading?
- What would change in your daily life if you truly believed you are an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty through the Spirit-illumined Word?
- How can you build the rhythm of daily ascent (encountering Christ in Scripture) and descent (serving others) into your regular pattern of life?
Prayer
Father, thank You for revealing Your glory throughout history—on Sinai, on Zion, and on the Mount of Transfiguration. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit-breathed Word where we can make the daily hike to witness Christ’s majesty. Open our eyes as we read Scripture. Help us see Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Speak to us as You spoke from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; hear Him.” Give us courage to descend from our times of worship and carry what we’ve seen into the world. Transform us by what Your Spirit shows us in Your Word, and make us faithful witnesses to the glory we’ve beheld. Establish this rhythm in our lives—daily ascent to see Your glory, daily descent to serve Your people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” — Matthew 17:8
Josh Cehulik 