Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.” (Psalm 122:6-9)

“I know exactly why you came to Jerusalem.” Visitors to Rabbi Gershon’s bookshop in the Jewish Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem are always taken aback by his eccentric greeting. Then to alleviate their consternation, Rabbi Gershon takes out his Bible and shows each visitor several verses, such as the ones above, or perhaps the verses where God promised to put his name in Jerusalem forever. Then the rabbi continues, “You may think you came to Jerusalem because it is part of your trip, or because you chose to come. The reality is, you are here in the holy city because God spoke to your heart and asked you to come and spend some time with Him in His home.”  

The City of God’s Revelation 

The city of Jerusalem is where God chose to reveal Himself to humanity, and ultimately will return in glory. David conquered the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, and ever afterwards it has been associated with his dynasty and descendants. It is the city where Solomon built a magnificent new temple for the Lord where Solomon humbly prayed, and God’s glory filled that temple so much that the priests could no longer minister before Him.  

Beyond that, it is a city of infinite importance to the Christian because of Jesus, the son of David. He preached the beautiful words of John 3:16, healed the blind man at Siloam, and cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem. Just before His death on the Cross, He rode triumphantly into the city on a donkey while the people shouted, “Hosanna, save us!” He instituted the Lord’s Supper on the south side of the city, and He was arrested just outside of Jerusalem at Gethsemane. He was judged, beaten, and crucified in Jerusalem. He was buried just outside of one of the gates, and there He rose from the dead. It is the city where God poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jerusalem is the city where one day soon Christ will return, in triumph.   

Walking Where Jesus Walked

As a believer, when you are in Jerusalem, you can walk the streets with your Bible open. You can observe where God’s story of redemption took place. You can see the myriad of places where God showed Himself strong, and where He will do it again in the future. Much prophecy has been accomplished in Jerusalem, but we can look forward to the fulfillment of even more prophecy. It is the city where the two witnesses of Revelation will preach, and where Jesus the Messiah will stand on the Mount of Olives and split it in two, while life-giving water flows unimpeded from the Temple Mount down to the Dead Sea. 

Believer, are you following the command of Psalm 122? Are you praying for the peace of Jerusalem? For peace in the city of Jesus’ death and resurrection? In modern times, the city of Jerusalem is divided and fraught with violence and danger. This should not surprise students of the Bible. Satan has forever tried to destroy whatever God loves. Why would things be different in the city that God chose above every other city? Pray for peace, and pray for Gospel witnesses to come to this special city.   

“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.  So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.” Joel 3:16-17 

The Ottoman walls of Jerusalem with the Mount of Olives in the background. The distantly visible tower on the Mount of Olives marks the traditional site where Jesus ascended into Heaven. Photo by John Buckner

About John Buckner

*Click HERE if you would like to travel with us to Jerusalem in the coming months.

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