The Epistle Reading for yesterday in from Hebrews 12: 1-24 wherein we are reminded of two Biblical mountains: Sinai and Zion. There are many significant mountains but Sinai and Zion top the list but also a mountain inbetween, more of hill: Golgotha. On these mountains the Lord teaches us.
From this Mountain, we know we sin. On Mt. Sinai, the LORD God came down and gave His Ten Commandments (Exodus 19). The scene was terrifying. The LORD told Moses, “Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.” Indeed! Can you climb this mountain by keeping God’s Law to reach the top? When we are found out in a sin, say a lie, we are like deer caught in headlights! We are frozen, DEAD in our tracks. The Law is but a mirror bright to bring the inbred sin to light. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7: 24)
From this Mountain, we know our Savior from sin. A young man asked a pastor, “Since we are all climbing up the same mountain to God, aren’t all religions the same?” By no means! The inerrant Scriptures are clear: This is the Lord Who came down from the mountain for us in our flesh. No other religion can so teach! Climbing up Sinai makes Mt. Everest a snap to climb! Since we can’t reach the top, the Lord came down all the way: first in a manger, a feeding trough (Luke 2:12) He went even lower: On Golgotha, the place of the Skull, He went into death on the Cross to bear our sin and be our Savior, so as He is risen, He can raise you up.
To the eternal Mountain, your Savior leads you. The Lord lead us to Mt. Zion, His Church, His Body ( 1 Corinthians 12) where He gives us Himself in the preaching and teaching of His Word and in the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Don’t we have to make the first step to follow Him? Did Lazarus make the first step out of the tomb on his own?! “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10: 17) The word of Christ is for your forgiveness, peace and salvation, delivered for you in His Church.
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