JESUS' MESSAGE ON THE MOUNT

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Why was Jesus' message on the mount so important to the New Testament church? a) The Sermon on the Mount, given by Jesus after he choose his twelve disciples, are the beginning words of God's New Covenant (agreement) offered to all mankind. Unlike the Old Covenant, which offered only physical blessings, the New Covenant makes possible eternal spiritual blessings. b) The Bible is silent in regard to the exact location Jesus used to give his well-known message about the basic principles for living life (Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49). The location historically where it is believed Jesus gave his sermon is called Mount Eremos, which has been commemorated as the place of his message for more than 1,5000 years. This mount is positioned on Galilee's northwest shore between the cities of Gennesaret and Capernaum. In the 4th century A.D. a Byzantine church structure was placed near this mount. The only things that remain from this building are pieces of a cistern and monastery. In 1938 A.D. the Roman Catholic Church built a chapel near this famed mount. c) The Mount overlooks the plain of Gennesaret, an area known for its fertility. The New Testament records several times that Jesus was in this area - including when he healed the multitudes and faced condemnation from the Pharisees for ritual impurity. d) Jesus, after he and his disciples sat down (near the top of the ridge in the above photo - where the church is located), began to give his "sermon" about simple but profound spiritual truths. Some of these were the value of being humble, merciful, a peacemaker and not returning evil to someone who sins against you.

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