There is something about climbing mountains that captures the imagination. When Matthew was in middle school and high school, we took several summer vacations that included climbing mountains. We wanted to climb the highest mountain in the states that we visited. My favorite climb was Mt. Katahdin in Maine we climbed the arduous Cathedral trail to Baxter peak, and then went over the Knife Edge trail, with its sheer drop on each side, to Katahdin peak. It was a tough, demanding climb to accomplish in a single day, and yet it was an adventure that we will never forget.
How many of you have climbed a mountain? (few comments)
These stories about mountains in the Bible are not just about the thrilling moments at the top. In fact, to some extent what is more important is the journey of which they are a part. Moses, from the burning bush on Mt. Horeb to the view of the promised land on Mt. Nebo was on a lifelong journey, responding to God’s call. Mountains are the memorable moments along our life journey.
When I was in seminary, I remember doing a paper for Confessions on a small group of Christians who called themselves “The Way.” They had adopted the name from one of the earliest designations Christians had for themselves. For these early Christians, it was a reminder that Jesus is “The Way, the truth and the life,” and their life journey was following the way of Jesus. In fact in other religions, Taoism and Buddhism, for example, the purpose in life is to discover “The Way.” It is a journey toward self-realization and self-actualization, what Rick Warren might call “The Purpose Driven Life.”
If that is the case, then all of us, as we go through life, are moving toward some destination. The question is, are we journeying with some intention, or are we wandering about aimlessly – lost, without even knowing it. Do we have a worthy purpose in life that gives meaning and fulfillment in life or are we just out in a boat catching fish; or, sitting in an office filling out tax forms, like the disciples before Jesus called them. The call changed everything. It was a call to follow him and while they did not know it at the time, it would involve climbing The Mountain. They might have had their first glimpse as they sat listening to Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount. Suddenly, their heart beat a bit faster, their imagination took flight, they were given a glimpse of a summit whose height makes us dream and whose purpose captures our hearts – for this mountain is called “The Kingdom of God.”
The book we are reading for the Tuesday morning book and breakfast group talks about adventures that are worth our best effort, that capture our imagination. And in the section we are reading for this week, it has the famous newspaper ad placed by Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleford:
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.
Five thousand men applied for the 26 spots available. Well, for Jesus, the goal was not Antarctica, it was the kingdom of Heaven and the journey would be far more arduous. He began with twelve.
But now, the invitation to participate in this journey has also come to you. At first it can be deceptive – like it was for the disciples. There are times of amazing miracles and the joy when the teachings of Jesus are welcomed and embraced by crowds of people. But as we approach the Mount of Olives, the full reality of the difficulty of the journey becomes clear. Today, the climb gets steeper and the disciples find themselves on the knife edge trail with sheer drops on either side. A betrayer is ready to ambush them and try to force Jesus off the trail. The disciples will run for cover and the mission will be delayed. It is the point of the climb when you wonder if you should continue.
I had actually tried to climb Mt. Katahdin some years earlier. My brother Bob and I had gone up to Maine with our father to camp and fish for a few days in mid-September. I had wanted to climb Katahdin and Bob agreed to do it with me. We were traveling light and dad would meet us on the other side, where we were camping for the night. The weather was iffy and the Knife Edge trail was closed – but the ranger said we could go if we started right away. We took off at a good pace and about halfway up, it started to snow – I said to Bob, “Well, what do you think?” “It’s your call,” he said. I looked up the mountain that I had wanted to climb. I looked at the snow. I realized that I had counted on fair weather, and we weren’t prepared for the change. “Let’s head back,” I said.
That’s where Jesus was on this Mount of Olives –this is where the storm begins. “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me,” . . . . Mountain climbing takes a lot of effort. It can be dangerous. People lose their lives. But this is where character is formed – this is where you get to know who you are and what you are made of, those of you who have climbed mountains – like Mt. Cancer or the Mt. of Grief and loss, or Mt. Success in Business or, as we have seen the past two weeks, Mt. Olympics – know what I mean. They require all that you have within you. But, like this Mount of Olives, they are part of a climb up a bigger mountain – the Sacred Mountain – where the full measure of our strength and faithfulness will be required.
There are those who think Christianity has gotten too soft? Is it relegated to movie re-runs and guided tours through a Hall of Fame of great saints of the past – But I’m not sure we are so different in our own journey of life. Sometimes we reach points where we are not yet prepared, we hadn’t anticipated the cost. But the wonder of God’s journey is that there is always another chance to climb the mountain. There are faint footprints and trail markers of those who have gone before us, reminding us that this is not only for the super saint or spiritual athletic professional, it is a climb first taken by fishermen and tax collectors, political activists and skeptical seekers who also turned back at one point.
They left Jesus alone, here at the Mount of Olives, when the weather changed, when the steepest part of the climb was just ahead, and even Jesus faltered briefly – “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me . . . nonetheless, Thy will be done.” He would not turn back. He would show his followers the way to the summit – so that when they reached moments in their lives like this, they could be confident that God would guide them through their moments of fear, betrayal, and abandonment, even death.
For Jesus, and the disciples, it was here, on this mountain that they discovered who they were and as they looked back, they would be astonished by what Jesus would be able to do. For here, as Jesus turned toward the summit, they discovered that Jesus’ words were true – “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” And they spent the rest of their lives following The Way – climbing mountains that earlier they could not climb, on the way to the Kingdom of God. Now that’s a journey worth being a part of!
Amen.