What a sight! [The gospel-writer] Matthew whisks you away to a high mountain. No, not a hill (like James Hill), but a mountain reaching some 9,000 feet into the sky. (For comparison, that’s about the height of the Rocky Mountain foothills or standing on the tallest of the Appalachian Mountains). |
No one’s there. Noisy Main Street doesn’t cut through the mountain. There are no mountaintop subdivisions jam-packed with homes. This is not like a high school cafeteria, where there’s groups of people walking past you talking and chattering— and you’re off to the side in your little group. No one is here— only Peter, James, John, and Jesus. It’s quiet, peaceful, serene. Can you picture it?