Model of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus

This huge model is pretty amazing. It's of the entire city, to scale and with correct topography etc. 

Here is a closeup of just a piece of the temple, admittedly the most important piece, the inner court, holy place and holy of holies. Even a model is breathtaking.

No wonder the religious leaders scoffed when Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." They thought he spoke of the real temple (which miracle he could perform if he wished). But, of course he spoke of his body, which he would give as a ransom for many, but not without the most intense physical, psychological and spiritual suffering imaginable.

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Jerusalem in the Last Days

Isaiah 24 is a remarkable, chilling chapter, culminating in this promise:

²¹ In that day the Lord will punish
the powers in the heavens above
and the kings on the earth below.
²² They will be herded together
like prisoners bound in a dungeon;
they will be shut up in prison
and be punished after many days.
²³ The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed;
for the Lord Almighty will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders, gloriously.

One City, Three Faiths

The three great monotheistic faiths are inextricably linked to this city.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each claims Jerusalem as its own.

Entering the Gates (Crusader Walls)

First View of the Holy City

We make the long drive up to Jerusalem. When they talk about "going up to Jerusalem" it makes a whole lot more sense to me now. It's a 4000 foot climb from the lowest point on earth to the most significant city on earth. No wonder there is a whole section in the psalms titled "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134) which recount going up to Jerusalem and the temple to worship God.

After going through a checkpoint with armed guards, we arive in the Holy City.



We drive up to Mt Scopus and this is the gorgeous scene before us:

Our guide breaks out the wine and leads us through a brief ceremony performed when one arrives in the Holy City. Kind of like communion. But no bread, and definitely no Jesus. Though when I look at the famous city for the first time, I can't help but think primarily of Him. We say a few Hebrew phrases. And look out on the city with awe.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
(Psalm 125:1,2 - A song of Ascents)

The Six Day War Restores the Western Wall of the Temple to Jews

IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) capture the temple area:

"Israeli officials flooded the city. It was a pilgrimage. Even the most worldly spoke of it in religious terms--how they stood before the Wall, which was covered in flowers, which was breathing, soft like skin, which was bleeding, wet with tears. A mad moment at the end of a mad age. Yitzhak Rabin wrote a prayer on a piece of paper and shoved it between the stones. Whoever does this is talking to history, worshipping the past. 'It was the peak of my life,' he said. 'For years I secretly harbored the dream that I might play a role in restoring the Western Wall to the Jewish people. Now that dream had come true, and I wondered why I, of all men, should be so privileged.' He gave a speech:

The sacrifices of our comrades have not been in vain. The countless generations of Jews murdered, martyred and massacred for the sake of Jerusalem say to you, Comfort yet, our people, console the mothers and fathers whose sacrifices have brought about redemption. - Rich Cohen, Israel is Real, 268.

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.'

Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built like a city

that is closely compacted together.

That is where the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord,

to praise the name of the Lord

according to the statutes given to Israel.

There the thrones for judgment stand,

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

'May those who love you be secure.

May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels.'

For the sake of my brothers and my friends,

I will say, 'Peace be within you.'

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

- Psalm 122 - A Song of Ascents

Jerusalem Now City of Peace!

Um, I guess we're not quite there yet. But this is the hope (and promise) of the prophet Isaiah in my reading from chapter 2 this morning (in the brand new NIV 2010 version, if you're wondering):

 ¹ This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
 ² In the last days
   the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
   as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
   and all nations will stream to it.
 ³ Many peoples will come and say,
   “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
   to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
   so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
   the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
⁴ He will judge between the nations
   and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
   and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
   nor will they train for war anymore.
 ⁵ Come, descendants of Jacob,
   let us walk in the light of the LORD.