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“A Place to Sit ...”
Categories: Shepherd's Corner“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them.” Matthew 5:1-2
For years during the summer, I visited my first cousin in Taos, New Mexico. We would fish in the mountain rivers. Some areas would still have snow. We would hike the trails to find the best fishing spots, but we would also look for a place to sit and take in the wonderful spender, tranquil peace, and talk about God.
When you think of the Sermon on the Mount, do we see Jesus (as Hollywood has coached us) perched on a high rock up in the hills, teaching the multitudes, or do we see Him walking through tall grass on the mountainsides, reciting the Beatitudes as He maneuvers among masses congregated there? Hmmm…?
Scripture says our Lord walked away from the crowd, headed into the hills, and found a place to sit. When His closest followers came to Him, Jesus taught them. This is a picture of intimate impartation to those seeking him, not a scene with stage lights, microphones, and megachurch-like multitudes.
Men too often long for the soapbox and the spotlight. They want to hear the applause and the “Amen.” But Jesus looks for faithfulness in little things. (Luke 16:10) He calls us to feed our own households and teach our own children first and foremost (Matt 24:45; Ephesians 6:4; 1Tim 5:8). Whether or not we’re called to speak to the many, we must often step away from the crowds and find a place to sit with the few in our lives that are right in front of us.
