Throughout the Book of Hebrews, the Writer (WH) has repeatedly shown the superiority of Jesus and His finished work. Much of this superior work has been contrasted with Old Testament events because the readers of Hebrews are primarily Jewish converts to the message of Jesus. In Hebrews 12, the WH contrasts the difference between two places where God’s people have assembled - the mountain where God gave His people the Law and the “heavenly” mountain where God gives His people the finished work of Jesus. Here is the text from Hebrews 12:

18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”[a] 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[b]

22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and

25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[c] 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”
In a sense, the WH is saying to his readers, and to us - Those who follow Christ have changed their address to the Mount Zion Living Center. Here’s what I mean - our old address under the previous system of laws and sacrifice could have been called - The Mountain of Fear. Now, the Mountain of Fear had some distinct benefits. The Mountain of Fear was a place where God showed His people how their sin and rebellion had caused a chasm between their sin and the holiness of God. This Mountain was rightfully a place of judgment. It served a distinct purpose - show the people of God how desperately they need a Savior!

What a different address is the Mount Zion Living Center - the “location” described in Hebrews 12. The text gives us several qualities of our new neighborhood.

1. Our new address - the “city of the living God.” Our new address tells us where our true home is, where our true hope is to be found, and where we possess our citizenship.

2. Our new address - “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly”. Mount Zion Living Center is a place alive with praise!

3. Our new address - “to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven”. We arrive at our new address through the work of Jesus. He has already turned in your change of address card. Because of His life, our lives are now securely assured.

4. Our new address - “You have come to God, the judge of all men”. Our old address - the mountain was a place of death. Our new address - the mount is a place of life.

5. Our new address - “to the spirits of righteous men made perfect”. The folks in our new neighborhood are there because of what has happened to them - we are made complete in Christ. He gives His righteousness to us so that we can live in the presence of our Holy God.

6. Our new address - “to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant”. Our new neighborhood is a covenant controlled community. There is a covenant established by Jesus that sets the boundaries of who is in the neighborhood and what happens there.

7. Our new address - “to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” The WH seldom strays very far from the Cross of Christ and all that was accomplished there, for you. The Cross is our pathway into the Mount Zion Living Center. The entrance is an empty tomb!