Teachings from the Mountainside - Pt 1

 

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-11 ESV).

 

I suppose I should have anticipated that it would be too great a temptation for Mary not to accompany her sister to the Smoky Mountains when the invitation was extended recently. I’m very happy they are on that trip, though I must admit I’m a bit jealous to be left behind (LOL). They decided to stay at the Christmas Inn in Pigeon Forge. As you can see in the picture, Mary seems to be perfectly at ease, though I’m a little concerned with her personal distance from the “Nutcracker Soldier” in this picture! All kidding aside, the mountains are one of our favorite spots and I am thrilled she is getting to visit them. While 2020 has been hard for many, it has been equally difficult for her. This trip is just the right thing at the right time.

 

For those of you who have visited the Smokies, you know they are different from the western ranges. They are both beautiful in their own way. The lush forests and wildlife of the Smokies are our preference though. They are a delight for the eyes, even if some would say they aren’t really “mountains.” Indeed, the highest peak doesn’t compare with the Rockies. That doesn’t seem to make any difference to our family. We love them!

 

In our reading today, Matthew describes Jesus climbing a mountainside to teach. I’ve been there as well. To describe it as a mountain may be a bit generous though. The landscape around the Sea of Galilee more closely resembled foothills. But Matthew chose his words deliberately. He was calling to mind a similar event from many centuries past. Exodus 19 describes the time when God’s people gathered at Mount Sinai while Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s law. The law that Moses received was a guide to the covenant way of life that God called his people to follow.

 

Now Jesus was remaking history. As he began teaching from a “mountainside,” he outlined for his followers a renewed way of life based on God’s ancient law, explaining how we are called to live truly for our Lord. In the next few days we’ll look at each of these teachings. I pray you will be challenged, encouraged, comforted, and exhorted. I also hope it will lead you to even great depths of peach and joy in your life!