A Tale of Three Mountains

September 4, 2007 by admin.

Hebrews 12:18-24

In Christ Jesus, our only Way to the heavenly Jerusalem, dear followers of our Lord,

Mountain-climbers often are fooled by it. From lower elevations, they gaze heavenward and are convinced that they are looking at a mountain’s high point as they prepare to ascend and reach its peak. But they soon learn that their eyes betray them, that they’re actually looking at a lesser peak that blocks the view of the true peak. To follow what they think they see would only lead them far off course. Many a climber has done just that, falling prey to what is called a “false summit.” Once one has made it to the top of the true summit, it’s easy to look down and see the false summit below. From below it may have appeared high and impressive, but no one would trade it for the view from the true summit.

Today we’re going to do a little mountain-climbing of the spiritual type, and we also want to be sure that we don’t fall for any “false summits.” This morning as we continue our study of the Book of Hebrews, we consider:

“A Tale of Three Mountains”

I. Sinai – where sin is revealed
II. Calvary – where sin is forgiven
III. Zion – where sin is no more

Last week we talked about the importance of “running life’s race with grace.” We were encouraged to “strengthen [our] feeble arms and weak knees” (Heb 12:12), and the writer goes on to once again tell us how to do just that (Heb 12:15), “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.” There’s the key – God’s grace! His undeserved love makes all the difference in the world. It’s grace that revealed God’s answer to sin. It’s grace that points us to Jesus!

To truly appreciate a Savior from sin, we first have to understand what sin has done to us. That’s our first stop this morning – Mount Sinai, the mountain where sin is revealed.

On Mount Sinai we’re reminded of what our relationship with God would be like without Jesus. Remember what took place on this mountain? It’s where the almighty and all-powerful God handed down his divine law in written form. The writer to the Hebrews pictures the scene first described back in the Book of Exodus (vv 18-21), “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’” I’m reminded of the fire alarm drills that we conduct each month down in the child care center, especially seeing the frenzied look on some of the children when they hear that ear-rattling alarm sound for the very first time. Magnify this to a much greater level, and we might get a picture of what Israel was going through while listening to God bellow down his law from Mount Sinai. In the original language you could translate our opening verse by saying, “You have not come to stay” on this mountain. Sinai was just a stopping point for Israel on their way to the Promised Land. It was a place where they were to learn about the reality of sin. Yes, as Paul writes, it’s through the law that we “become conscious of sin” (Ro 3:20). To impress this message on his people, the Lord appeared on Sinai in this glorious yet terrifying form.

It’s here on Sinai that we also have our sins revealed. We roll out the Ten Commandments and, if honest, must admit to not only failing God’s test but actually scoring a complete zero. Even as Sinai at that first law-giving was unapproachable because of its fire and darkness, so also our holy God, who is later described as “a consuming fire” (He 12:29), is unapproachable because of our sins. Even as touching Mount Sinai led to dire consequences for Israel, so also our sin results in death and eternal separation from our God. If even Moses was heard to proclaim, “I am trembling with fear” as he took in such a sight, how can we do anything less when our sins are revealed to us in the mirror of God’s holy law?

Thank God that Mount Sinai was meant to only be a stopping point, a place where we were never meant to stay! While it’s so important that we do travel up this mount to see the ugliness of our sins, it’s also so necessary for us to move on from this “false summit” to the true peak where God would have us dwell. But in order to get there we have to take in another mountain – this time, Mount Calvary, the mountain where sin is forgiven!

There is only one way that we dare to approach our righteous God, and that’s through Jesus, the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Ti 2:5). Drop down a few verses in our text (vv 23,24), “You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Later this morning we’ll be singing about this mountain (CW 106:1): “Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain, Sinners, ruined by the fall; Here a pure and healing fountain Flows to you, to me, to all, In a full, perpetual tide, Opened when our Savior died.” Calvary is the mountain that makes the difference in our relationship with God. It’s where we’re introduced to Jesus, the one who flawlessly took on God’s law for us so that we could be included among the “righteous . . . made perfect” when Jesus negotiated a “new covenant,” unlike the old covenant handed down on Sinai to Moses that none of us has kept. Now Jesus has signed a new, one-sided covenant of grace in which he bore our sins while we received his righteousness. The cost? His “sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Abel was just mentioned back in chapter 11. Remember him? He was a righteous man whose blood was shed and whose blood cried out to God for justice. Jesus’ blood is that of a perfect man, blood that perfectly fulfills God’s justice. We sing of this comparison in another Lenten hymn (CW 103:1): “Abel’s blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies, But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.” God the Father heard that cry and accepted the blood shed on Calvary as payment in full for our sinfulness! Calvary is the mountain on which our sins are forgiven!

It’s so vital for our spiritual welfare that we spend time on Mount Calvary and not become overly preoccupied with Mount Sinai. And yet that’s exactly what Satan tempts us to do. He would much rather have us believe that somehow we have to figure out how to appease a righteous God on our own. The more he can get us caught up in our own self-righteous efforts, the more we lose our focus and our view of Calvary. We start taking in the “false summit” and allow it to obscure the mountain on which our salvation was won. We allow Sinai to block out Calvary.

With the Spirit’s help we can resist such temptations and instead be led through God’s Word to look away from ourselves – away from Sinai – and instead give all glory to our Savior and what he accomplished – in full – on Calvary. Don’t try winning something that’s already been won! Don’t try obtaining something that has already been given to you! Leave Sinai behind and “come to Calvary’s holy mountain” – the mountain where sin is forgiven!

There’s one more mountain to visit on our journey, our final stop. Because of what Jesus did for us on Mount Calvary, we are now headed to Mount Zion – the place where sin is no more!

Mount Zion is the mountain on which Jerusalem is built. Here it’s the symbol for the church triumphant, the final gathering place for all believers in heaven. Now, because of Jesus, it’s as if we’re standing with one foot already in that everlasting city. Our Savior says in John 6:47, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” Listen to how this blessed mountain is described in our text (vv 22,23), “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” We are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, able to enjoy that citizenship to some extent right now as we live in the peace and joy of our Savior’s forgiveness, but someday we’ll enjoy our citizenship even more fully. That’s because Mount Zion is a place where sin is no more! And, as a result, the effects of sin will be missing as well. Listen to how it’s described in Revelation 9 (vv 16,17), “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. . . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

There’s no comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Sinai was empty and barren, an untouchable place where no living things were allowed. Zion is a city, alive with people and thronging with “thousands upon thousands of angels.” Sinai was terrifying and unsettling, while Zion is a “joyful assembly.” Sinai announced death as the just punishment for sinners, while Zion is the home “of the living God” who has justified us through his own Son. On Sinai were written the Ten Commandments, which wrote off all our deeds as evil. On Zion our names are written in the book of life!

As we travel from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion by way of Mount Calvary, be sure and take in the view from each mountain. On Sinai you’ll see your sin revealed. On Calvary you’ll see your sin forgiven. And, finally, on Zion you’ll see your sin no more! My friends, that’s a view that can’t be beat!

Amen

-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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