| When
God’s People Think of JerusalemA. Thirty-three miles east of the
Mediterranean Sea and fourteen miles west of the Dead Sea stands a
mountain—2,500 feet above sea level (Psa 122:3-4)—surrounded by other
mountains (Psa 125:2).B. Jerusalem, a major intersection for thousands of
years, sits on the variously named peaks of that mountain.C. It is hard to
overstate what Jerusalem has meant to people through the ages. When we think
of Jerusalem, what should come to mind? For what should we hope? What is Jerusalem’s
future?Jerusalem in the Old Testament• Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac
in “the land of Moriah” (Gen 22:1-2)• Jerusalem was captured after the death
of Joshua by the men of Judah (Judg 1:8), but the people of Benjamin did not
drive out the Jebusites who lived there (Judg 1:21)• Jerusalem remained
largely Jebusite until David conquered it and made it his capital (1 Chron
11:1-9), bringing the ark of the covenant into the city with great rejoicing
(2 Sam 6:12) and establishing the crown jewel of the Jewish nation (Psa
48:1-3, 12-14; Psa 122; 125; 128:5-6; 132:13-18)• Solomon built the temple in
Jerusalem (2 Chron 3:1; 1 Kings 8:13; Song of Solomon 6:4)• This city of
Jewish kings was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:1-12)• God’s prophets
revealed why Jerusalem had been destroyed (Jer 44:2-6; Lam 1:8; 4:11-13)•
Deep laments came after Jerusalem’s destruction (Psa 137:1-6; Lam 1:1; 2:13;
Dan 6:10; 9:16)• Cyrus king of Persia made a proclamation that Jerusalem was
to be rebuilt (Ezra 1:1-4)Jerusalem in the New Testament• A temple built by
Herod the Great in Jerusalem had taken 46 years to build (John 2:20)• Anna
and others like her were anxiously waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem
(Luke 2:36-38)• People were coming out of Jerusalem to hear the message of
John (Matt 3:5-6)• Jesus was taken by the devil to Jerusalem and tempted
(Matt 4:5-7)• Jesus performed multiple miracles and delivered powerful
messages in Jerusalem (John 3:1-2)• Jesus told his disciples multiple times
that he would be killed in Jerusalem (Matt 16:21)• Jesus wept over
Jerusalem’s refusal to repent and foretold its destruction (Luke 19:41-44)•
Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha (Matt
27:32-35, 51-53)• Jesus rose and appeared to many in Jerusalem and beyond
over the course of 40 days (Acts 1:3)• Jesus expected and empowered his
disciples to be witnesses, beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8)Jerusalem
TodayThe New Jerusalem• God has prepared a city for the faithful (Heb
11:13-16, 10; 12:18-24)• John saw “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God” (Rev 21-22)See attached lesson for download |
