But you have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in Heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfectto Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24; emp added). In Mount Zion, God is the One who makes us acceptable through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Our perfection comes from Him. The spirit of fear covered Mount Sinai, but the spirit of love is the banner of Mt Zion. Recognise the Christian now stands on Mount Zion and know how to relate to your Father in Heaven.
“City of the living God”. It refers to God’s dwelling place. The Christian enjoys continuous access to God’s presence because Jesus became the Mediator between God and men through the dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. “The heavenly Jerusalem”. The Old Testament is about the earthly Jerusalem, and the New Testament is about the heavenly Jerusalem. The New relates to our spiritual relationship with God that will last for eternity. The Old Covenant is symbolised by Mount Sinai and the New by Mount Zion. The Bible is a tale of two mountains. Whereas Mt Sinai invokes images of fear and terror, the other mountain inspires images of worship, beauty and glory. Mount Zion is the place where Solomon’s glorious Temple was built. It was a place of joyful music and worship to the Lord. The children of Israel thronged the Temple with gladness of enjoying the presence of God, a direct opposite of their frightful experience on Mount Sinai.
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” (Ps 48:1-2). It is satisfying knowing that in Jesus, we have come to Mount Zion because He is the firstborn from the dead. He is the first sign of the resurrection to come. The Christian view of God as a Judge is related to His ability to reward those who live for Him. It is not an outlook of terror but of that coming blessing.
