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October 10th
The Bible reading today is in Matthew 5-7...Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.
“Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain”,
Early in Jesus’ earthly ministry, word of His teachings and His miracles traveled fast around Judea, Samaria, and Galilee...and beyond. Crowds of people sought him out. Most were at least curious. But many of began to believe him and to follow him and the twelve.
Jesus would choose twelve as apostles to eventually be sent out with the gospel message as missionaries and church planters. But for now, the 12 stayed with Jesus wherever he went.
We read that Jesus saw the crowds and went up on the mountain (just outside of Capernaum). We shouldn't assume that Jesus was trying to dodge the multitudes. More than likely he knew that it would be better to address the crowd on the mountainside, so he led them there.
By the way, according to the gospel accounts, Jesus would often retreat to a mountainside for conversations with the Father. He desired that “alone time”. But today, from earth’s housetops, Jesus was teaching anyone and everyone on the mountain.
“and when he sat down”, his disciples (the crowd of seekers and believers) they came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them...
