A
Timeless Moment on the Mountainside
16th
January 10.45am. Hunslet Church of the Nazarene
(Ministry theme for 2011)
A series of studies based on the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ Matthew 5:1-10
“And seeing
the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples
came unto 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 they that
mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit
the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are they which
are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you.”
INTRODUCTION
This
segment of scripture is probably the best known part of the teaching of Jesus.
Arguably it is the least understood part of the teaching of Jesus. Certainly it
is the least obeyed part of the teaching of Jesus. (John Scott)
It
is always helpful to know the context background and setting of Scripture. A
text taken out of context becomes a pretext.
At the same time moving from the technical theological mechanics of
scripture, to the life giving message of scripture.
The main thing is to make sure that the main thing remains the main
thing. It is more than schemes or dispensations and classifications set in
concrete.
Biblical truth has been divinely authorised fully inspired by the Holy
Spirit and given for all to read – believe – apply – live out in daily
THE PULPIT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Let
us together visit the mountain mentioned with expectancy and capture the
timeless moment. From the height of the mountain you will hear and receive by
faith an understanding of the personal love that our Lord Jesus has for you. You
will be blessed time after time after time after time…….
Happiness
will be heaped upon you in your obedience in holiness to our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can be the kind of Christian believers He wants and will enable us to be –
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Sin
which in the past had made our hearts void of all grace - hard and unbending
like stone has been forgiven by our repentance in the Lord Jesus Christ. While
the wax is hard and cold it will not take the impression of the seal. Now our
hearts have been softened by the grace of the Lord Jesus we can now received the
image and stamp of the Saviour in our lives.
“Now
when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down”.
Why
we may ask with great interest. What is the reason for this to happen? Why
should there be a pulpit established in such a place. Who is this man - this
preacher called Jesus. What is the significance of Him sitting down on the
mountainside?
Let
us stop for a moment of time to consider this timeless moment.
The
clock is ticking and the fresh air of truth is blowing over Israel.
A
new voice is speaking. The chain of divine revelation is been enlarged new gems,
and jewels added. Jesus is the gemmologist. Jesus does this in a pulpit on a
mountainside. He is fulfilling the plan and the prophesy of scripture. The
silence of the 400 years since the voice of Malachi the last book in the Old
Testament is broken by Matthew the first book in the New Testament. Messiah had
come to Israel his cry from the cradle in Bethlehem’s stable 30 years earlier
announced his dramatic birth. After some 30 years of silence, Jesus burst on the
scene like a meteor and he had woken and excited the people of the nation.
Baptism
by John the Baptist - Israel’s greatest prophet took place in the
River
Jordan at which God the Father qualified and attested Him with the statement
‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17)
This
was followed by a traumatic encounter with Satan in the Judean desert, He then
went to live in Capernaum, where he be begun to preach (Matthew 4:17). Soon
afterward he called his first disciples, who joined him on an extensive tour of
the region: (Matthew 4 23-25)
‘And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and
they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and
torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were
lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed
him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from
Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.’
We
are not surprised by such an ecstatic response especially to the miracles. It is
not impossible that Jesus performed more miracles in one day than were performed
in the whole of Old Testament history.
News
spread like wildfire and massive crowds flocked after him.
Excitement
mounted and people’s expectations went through the roof, it seemed that
everybody wanted to be part of what was happening.
It
was at that moment Jesus saw the crowds sensed the emotional surge of their
support for him that he made his way up the mountainside to deliver the landmark
message which Matthew records for us.
Never man spake like this man (John 7:46).
Frank Rowley