	A Glimpse of Glory
	The formidable bulk of the ‘Crinkle Crags’ dominates the end of Great Langdale in the heart of the Lake District. It was whilst climbing over them, back in March, that I used an ice axe for the very first time in my life. It proved its worth when we reached the snow line and faced treacherous, icy snowdrifts of up to eighteen inches (nearly up to our knees!) – suddenly it became essential equipment rather than a fashion accessory attached to my backpack. The going was tough and, although it was an extremely enjoyable day, I was more than happy to get back down to the car for the drive home. Mountains are not to be trifled with; they are dangerous places – from time to time we hear of people who have been killed or seriously injured climbing them. The gospel story of the ‘Transfiguration’ of Jesus begins with a strenuous climb up a ‘high’ mountain (we are not sure exactly which one) with three hand-picked disciples playing ‘follow my leader’ all the way up. What happened when they reached the top would stay with Peter, James and John, no doubt, for the rest of their lives. The transformation of Jesus was sudden and startling – what had happened to the familiar carpenter turned teacher from Galilee was far beyond their ability to grasp and, in their fear and confusion; they simply had no idea what on earth to say or do. This was a transformed, glorious, dazzling Jesus, and if his radically changed appearance was not enough to blow the minds of these thoroughly disorientated disciples, Moses and Elijah, no less, appear for a chat with Jesus followed by yet one more voice declaring, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him’. Whilst the disciples were stunned, for Jesus it was a glimpse of the glory he had exchanged for the dust and heat of Palestine. But there was to be no lingering on the mountain top. Jesus had to come down again to face the dust and the flies, the arguments and the misunderstandings, the questions and the hostility. Before many days had passed he would have to endure arrest and trial before facing the agony and humiliation of crucifixion. But, of course, the story of Jesus doesn’t end in despair. Those who were on the mountain were given a momentary glimpse of the amazing reality of who Jesus really was. When he tells the disciples that he will rise from the dead Jesus speaks as one who has seen the glory and the wonder of the eternal kingdom; his words are not those of a crazed fantasist but of one who has been to the mountain top and bathed in the glory of God.	As we journey through life we also sometimes glimpse the ‘mountain top’. Back in April I was involved in a special weekend for those preparing for Christian ministry which was full of blessing – but it didn’t take long for life to come back down to earth once Monday morning had arrived and the pressures of day-to-day life kicked in! Just like Jesus we have to face the frustrations, disappointments, stresses and irritations of everyday life. We might be struggling with such things as a stressful situation at work, a relationship that is causing us pain or a really difficult decision that needs to be made. So neither can we linger too long on top of the mountain! Up on Crinkle Crags it was a changeable sort of day. At times the weather closed in and visibility was reduced to a matter of yards. But then the clouds would roll away and a glorious view extending for miles and miles, right across the heart of the Lake District, would be revealed. Each time the weather did close in we were entombed, as it seemed, in the mist. But all that wonderful scenery didn’t suddenly cease to exist just because we couldn’t see it with our eyes – it was still there in all its glory, but hidden, veiled from our sight. We cannot spend our lives looking upwards and gazing at a pure vision of God’s glory, although the glimpses we are given are precious divine gifts. The wonder and glory of God’s kingdom are real though they remain unseen and, at times, seemingly remote; the holy mountain is still there even when it appears to be shrouded in the mist. When Jesus rose from the dead Thomas insisted on seeing his hands and feet before he believed. Jesus told him ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Life today can be challenging for all kinds of reasons but the one who dazzled on the mountain points us to a new reality and the assurance that the best is yet to come! You can read the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark 9 v 2-13 Rob Green
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

A Glimpse of Glory

The formidable bulk of the ‘Crinkle Crags’ dominates the end of Great Langdale in the heart of the Lake District. It was whilst climbing over them, back in March, that I used an ice axe for the very first time in my life. It proved its worth when we reached the snow line and faced treacherous, icy snowdrifts of up to eighteen inches (nearly up to our knees!) – suddenly it became essential equipment rather than a fashion accessory attached to my backpack. The going was tough and, although it was an extremely enjoyable day, I was more than happy to get back down to the car for the drive home.

Mountains are not to be trifled with; they are dangerous places – from time to time we hear of people who have been killed or seriously injured climbing them. The gospel story of the ‘Transfiguration’ of Jesus begins with a strenuous climb up a ‘high’ mountain (we are not sure exactly which one) with three hand-picked disciples playing ‘follow my leader’ all the way up.

What happened when they reached the top would stay with Peter, James and John, no doubt, for the rest of their lives. The transformation of Jesus was sudden and startling – what had happened to the familiar carpenter turned teacher from Galilee was far beyond their ability to grasp and, in their fear and confusion; they simply had no idea what on earth to say or do.

This was a transformed, glorious, dazzling Jesus, and if his radically changed appearance was not enough to blow the minds of these thoroughly disorientated disciples, Moses and Elijah, no less, appear for a chat with Jesus followed by yet one more voice declaring, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him’. Whilst the disciples were stunned, for Jesus it was a glimpse of the glory he had exchanged for the dust and heat of Palestine.

But there was to be no lingering on the mountain top. Jesus had to come down again to face the dust and the flies, the arguments and the misunderstandings, the questions and the hostility. Before many days had passed he would have to endure arrest and trial before facing the agony and humiliation of crucifixion. But, of course, the story of Jesus doesn’t end in despair. Those who were on the mountain were given a momentary glimpse of the amazing reality of who Jesus really was. When he tells the disciples that he will rise from the dead Jesus speaks as one who has seen the glory and the wonder of the eternal kingdom; his words are not those of a crazed fantasist but of one who has been to the mountain top and bathed in the glory of God.

As we journey through life we also sometimes glimpse the ‘mountain top’. Back in April I was involved in a special weekend for those preparing for Christian ministry which was full of blessing – but it didn’t take long for life to come back down to earth once Monday morning had arrived and the pressures of day-to-day life kicked in!

Just like Jesus we have to face the frustrations, disappointments, stresses and irritations of everyday life. We might be struggling with such things as a stressful situation at work, a relationship that is causing us pain or a really difficult decision that needs to be made.

So neither can we linger too long on top of the mountain! Up on Crinkle Crags it was a changeable sort of day. At times the weather closed in and visibility was reduced to a matter of yards. But then the clouds would roll away and a glorious view extending for miles and miles, right across the heart of the Lake District, would be revealed. Each time the weather did close in we were entombed, as it seemed, in the mist. But all that wonderful scenery didn’t suddenly cease to exist just because we couldn’t see it with our eyes – it was still there in all its glory, but hidden, veiled from our sight.

We cannot spend our lives looking upwards and gazing at a pure vision of God’s glory, although the glimpses we are given are precious divine gifts. The wonder and glory of God’s kingdom are real though they remain unseen and, at times, seemingly remote; the holy mountain is still there even when it appears to be shrouded in the mist. When Jesus rose from the dead Thomas insisted on seeing his hands and feet before he believed. Jesus told him ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Life today can be challenging for all kinds of reasons but the one who dazzled on the mountain points us to a new reality and the assurance that the best is yet to come!

You can read the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark 9 v 2-13

Rob Green

A Glimpse of Glory

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325