Matthew 5:35: “… it is the city of the great King.”
In Matthew 5, Jesus says we should not swear by the earth, for it is God’s footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. It’s interesting that Jesus refers to the earth as God’s footstool, but He calls the city of Jerusalem His own city. Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible—600 times in the Old Testament and 200 times in the New Testament. Jerusalem—“Jerushalaim” in Hebrew—means “city of peace.”
All the major events in God’s plan of salvation take place in this city. When God called Abraham and tested his faith, He instructed him to go to Mount Moriah, where he was to demonstrate his faith in the Lord, who “gives life to the dead.” Following God’s instruction, Abraham saddled his donkeys, took his son Isaac and his servants, and set out for the mountain.
The Bible tells us that after several days of travel, Abraham arrived at Moriah. At the foot of the mountain, he left his servants and donkeys behind, and he and his son ascended. He built an altar and lifted the knife over his promised son, Isaac, fully believing in the God who raises the dead.
Genesis 22:11: “But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he answered, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him! For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.’” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush nearby. Abraham went and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
It’s quite possible that Abraham, at this moment, saw prophetically into the future—to the day when God would sacrifice His own Son. Perhaps he saw, on the same mountain, God’s own sacrificial lamb hanging on the cross and declaring, “It is finished.” In any case, Jesus says, “Abraham saw my day and rejoiced.” Most likely, Mount Moriah is located in what later became the city of Jerusalem.
The First Temple is Built in Jerusalem
A thousand years later, King David makes Jerusalem the center of the Jewish nation, and here the temple is built where God dwells among His people. Inside the temple’s court and the Holy Place was the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence resided as the Shekinah glory cloud. It was this cloud that caused the priests to fall on their faces when Solomon dedicated the temple (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).
Jerusalem, the Epicenter of God’s Salvation Plan
A thousand years later in the city’s history, what Abraham saw is fulfilled—the event that would become the epicenter of God’s salvation plan. After carrying the cross through the city’s streets, God’s perfect sacrifice, Jesus, is crucified in our place, in Jerusalem. “It is finished!” This couldn’t happen in Nazareth, Bethlehem, or Jaffa; it had to happen in God’s own city. Jesus is buried and rises again in this city.
Shortly afterwards, He ascends to the Father from the Mount of Olives overlooking this city. Later, as the disciples and believers gather in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descends upon them. The streets of this city bear witness to this historically significant outpouring of the Spirit. From Jerusalem, the Gospel spreads to the ends of the earth (Acts 2:1-4).
The Church awaits the day when Jesus will return, as it is written that every eye shall see Him. There is no question about where He will return. Acts 1:8-11 says:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. As they gazed intently into the sky while He was going, suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
The prophet Zechariah puts it this way in chapter 14, verse 4: “On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem.”
God has chosen this city to be His own, where He accomplishes His perfect work of salvation and His salvation plan.
Reflection Questions – Jerusalem
1. – What biblical events have taken place in Jerusalem throughout history?
2. – What promises have been spoken over the city of Jerusalem?
3. – Will the city of Jerusalem play a role in the future?
4. – Which Bible verses spoke to you personally?
