BibleProject

The Mountain E11 — We’ve learned that mountains in the Hebrew Bible often become a space where Heaven and Earth overlap and human beings must choose between self-preservation or surrender and trust in God. The story builds our hope and expectation for a faithful intercessor on the mountain who can mediate God’s blessings to the people below. As we turn to the New Testament, gospel writer Matthew is ready to spotlight who that faithful mountaintop intercessor is. In this episode, Jon and Tim walk through seven stories in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus prays, teaches, does miracles, and more—all on mountains.

The Mountain E10 — The prophet Isaiah depicts Mount Zion as a cosmic mountain where Heaven and Earth overlap and God’s blessings flow down to all of creation. But Isaiah also lived in the real Jerusalem that had Mount Zion at its center, which was filled with corruption, injustice, and idolatry. So in his prophecies, he balances hope in this future new Eden with warnings of judgment on Jerusalem’s proud and corrupt elites. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the many iterations of the mountain theme in Isaiah 2-4, including how Jesus and his disciples embody the imagery of Isaiah’s anointed servant and the remnant community.

In our final episode of 2024, Tim, Jon, and BibleProject CEO, Steve Atkinson, reflect on ten years of the project, all the resources we got to make and share this year, and the patrons who made it possible. The guys then give a sneak peek of what’s coming up next for BibleProject in 2025.

The Mountain E9 — The mountain theme shows up again and again in biblical narrative, but it’s also prominent in the Psalms. Particularly in Psalms 15-24, the biblical authors reflect on the traits of the one who can ascend and dwell on God’s holy mountain. At first, this question focuses on King David and his royal successors as they endure suffering, despair, and ultimately vindication, which leads to blessing for Israel and the nations. But eventually, it’s not just the Davidic king but a whole community of the faithful ascending the mountain! In this episode, Jon and Tim survey the mountain theme through the Psalms scroll and reflect on what it takes to be with God there.

The Mountain E8 — On two different mountains, we witness mountain tests with two very different Elijahs. On Mount Carmel, he partners with God in challenging the false prophets of Baal, leading to the people’s repentance and renewal of trust in God. But then only a chapter later, Elijah is on Mount Sinai accusing the people and loathing his prophetic calling. Why the sudden shift? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the contrasting mountain test stories of 1 Kings 18-19, reflecting on the human tendency toward fear, condemnation, and false narratives—even after great success.