CLIMBING MOUNTAINS
28th Jan 2015
Why did Jesus climb a mountain in order to deliver “The Sermon on the Mount”? Why did Jesus climb a mountain so that he could be by himself and pray? Why did Jesus climb a mountain for a healing meeting with the crippled, lame, blind and maimed?
These ‘mountain top’ events have impacted me recently as I have been reading through Matthew’s gospel. Jesus knew that his disciples needed to clearly hear the teaching that we have recorded in Matthew chapters 5 - 7, so he called them away from the distractions of the city and the crowds to listen carefully to what He had to say.
Where is your ‘mountain’ where you withdraw from the clamour of daily life to listen to God’s voice and to read His Word?
Jesus had given time and energy teaching the 5000 and then feeding them with the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He would have been drained both physically and spiritually, so he chose to send the disciples on ahead of him in the boat across the lake while “he climbed a mountain by himself to pray.” (Matthew 14:23)
Where is your ‘mountain’ where you can restore your physical, spiritual and emotional energy? We all need a place where we can pray, worship and recharge our batteries. Jesus encouraged his disciples in Gethsemane to, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41)
In Matthew 15:29, Jesus chose to climb a mountain when He knew that all kinds of sick and lame people were needing to be healed. I have always found this very surprising! Why? I believe that Jesus was wanting to find out those who were really serious about looking to him to meet their deepest needs.
Are you prepared to climb a ‘mountain’ to receive what you desire from Jesus? I believe that we can be a bit casual and lazy in our praying. God’s word says, “You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
We all need to do some “Mountain Climbing.”
by Charles Sibthorpe
