October 19, 2012 (Friday)
The Bible names many mountains and describes them for us. I would like for us to take a look today at three of those mountains.
First, Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb. This mountain in the desert is famous for several events recorded in the Scriptures. Our first introduction to it is in the Book of Exodus. Moses led the people of God out of Egypt to Mount Sinai, which Moses ascended to meet with God. It was there that God gave His people His Commandments, engraved on tablets of stone. These commandments give us the Moral Law, timeless commands that show us how to worship, how to have homes that glorify God, and how to live in peace with our fellow human beings.
The second mountain I want us to visit in this little essay is Mount Olivet, or The Mount of Olives. This mountain figures prominently in God’s plan of Redemption, especially in the New Testament. Gethsemane was located on this mountain and here Jesus prayed so fervently that blood dripped from his body. Here he prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” He arose from his place of prayer to hand himself over to the authorities for trial and crucifixion. He prayed for all of us that night, and surrendered himself completely as the Ransom for our souls.
The third mountain of importance in God’s plan of eternal salvation for all of us is Mount Calvary. This mountain is really more likely to be known as a hill, but for fifteen centuries has been known as “Mount Calvary.” It was here that Jesus was nailed to a cruel Roman cross, giving his life and shedding his own blood so that we might be forgiven of all our sins. The Scriptures say that in that place there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, and that’s where Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon late. A great stone sealed the tomb. On Sunday morning visitors found the stone rolled away and angels appeared, announcing that Jesus had risen from the dead.
There is much more to be said about these mountains and others that reveal God’s love for us all in Christ, but these three give the essence of the marvelous truth that God loves us all and has made salvation possible through faith in Christ.
Sinai: Where God showed us how he wants us to live. Olivet: Where Jesus prayed for us, committing himself to die for us. Calvary: Where Jesus died, was buried and was resurrected so that we might have Eternal Life. Three mountains of the Bible; three reasons to praise God today.