O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke 13:34 (NKJV)
In Spring 2018, the world was surprised to see United States President Trump recognize Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel, moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to the original capital city.
Yet for Messianic Jews and Christians familiar with God’s Word, this came as no surprise. For during the Old Testament reign of King David, the king took a census which God punished with a plague across the land. The plague lasted for three days, killing 70,000 people. But then God had mercy, commanding the angel of death to halt right at the threshing floor of Ornan (Araunah) (2 Samuel 24:14-16). King David purchased that threshing floor and built an alter to the Lord. And that was the exact spot, the Holy Ground, God chose for King Solomon’s temple.
Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 Chronicles 3:1 (NKJV)
Fast forward to the time of Jesus. Over and over in the book of Luke we read how Jesus was headed to Jerusalem (In fact, if you read Luke with a pen in hand, you can underline the word Jerusalem multiple times). Jesus knew he had to die there for the sins of the world. Along the way, Jesus taught the people about His Father’s love, healed the sick, and performed mighty miracles. But Jesus never lost sight of his goal: Jerusalem.
Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 (NKJV)
And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Luke 13:22 (NKJV)
Jerusalem should be our goal, too. Yet ours is a New Jerusalem, a Holy City, Zion, come down from heaven. We long for the day when Jesus will come again to rule on earth. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). Jesus will reign forever and ever in the New Jerusalem.
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16 (NKJV)
Until that day comes, we must fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2), following His example with Jerusalem always as our goal. When we learn to drive, we are taught to look far down the road, not right in front of the car. By focusing on a distant point we drive straight, rather than weaving around the road. When we follow Jesus, we also want to stay on His straight and narrow path, looking far down the road to His New Jerusalem.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Revelation 21:10 (NKJV)
Today’s TEA CUPP: What is your Jerusalem? Is it Jesus? Every day, through every up and down, fix your eyes on the Lord of heaven and earth. With God’s Word in your heart and on your lips in prayer, keep marching to the goal! And while we are marching, let us pray for the current situation in Jerusalem. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there… 2 Chronicles 6:6 (NKJV)
Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson