Tale of Two Mountains
Children's Message: Without faith in God, our lives are like Jenga blocks; when shaken, they fall apart.
With God in our hearts, the lives we build resemble Legos. Much more secure and stable, not easily shaken by the negativity around us.
The most well-known "tale of two mountains" in the Bible is found in Hebrews 12:18-24, contrasting the terrifying experience of the Israelites at Mount Sinai with the gracious encounter with God on Mount Zion. Sinai represents the old covenant of fear and judgment, where God's presence was a consuming fire and death was the consequence of approaching. Zion, in contrast, represents the new covenant, where believers, through Jesus, can come face-to-face with God in grace and life, symbolizing a future of joy and restoration rather than fear.
Mount Sinai: The Mountain of Fear
The Experience:
At Mount Sinai, the Israelites encountered a fearful, holy God. The mountain was filled with thunder, lightning, and the sound of a trumpet, causing the people to tremble and retreat.
The Law:
This mountain is where Moses received the Law from God, a covenant associated with judgment and the threat of death for disobedience or even touching the mountain.
God's Presence:
God's holiness was so absolute that even the people standing at a distance were terrified, and any unauthorized approach meant death.
Mount Zion: The Mountain of Joy
Mount Zion represents the new covenant and God's dwelling place in the Temple. It is the city of God, where Heaven and Earth meet.
Through Jesus Christ, believers are brought to Mount Zion, which symbolizes a future of joy, restoration, and life under grace.
Unlike the consuming fire of Sinai, on Zion, God's glory dwells fully, and He is able to be in the presence of sinful humanity through the faithful work of Jesus.
The Contrast
Old vs. New Covenant:
The tale of these two mountains illustrates the profound difference between the old covenant, established by the Law at Sinai, and the new covenant, established by grace through Jesus Christ at Zion.
Fear vs. Grace:
Sinai instilled fear and separated people from God, while Zion offers a place of connection, forgiveness, and intimate relationship with God.
Divine Discipline vs. Divine Grace:
At Sinai, God reveals his power through judgment and discipline; at Zion, He reveals his full and loving presence through the redemptive work of Christ.
The Book of Hebrews was specifically written to encourage and instruct Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus), often called Messianic Jews in a modern context. The book addresses them at a time when they were tempted to abandon their faith in Yeshua and return to Judaism to escape religious or political pressure, highlighting that Yeshua is the superior High Priest and the true fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
Key points supporting this view:
Target Audience:The title "Hebrews" itself indicates the audience was Jewish people. The text's heavy emphasis on the Old Testament Law, the Temple, and the priesthood also confirms this.
Cultural Context:The author assumes a deep familiarity with Jewish customs, religious institutions, and biblical texts.
Theological Argument:The primary purpose was to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus over angels, Moses, the Levitical priesthood, and the Old Covenant sacrifices. This was crucial to prevent the Jewish believers from renouncing their faith and returning to the existing Jewish system.
Persecution:The letter was likely written before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE and during a period when Jewish Christians faced persecution, which intensified the temptation to recant their faith.
"Messianic Jewish" term:While the term "Messianic Jew" is a modern one, the people addressed in the book were Jewish individuals who had come to believe that Yeshua was the Messiah.
