02.10. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem'

’O Jerusalem, Jerusalem’ The land that modern Israel received for its re-established homeland was not equal to what it once had. It received no land east of the Jordan River, and only part of the land west of the Jordan. Parts it did not receive were still under the control of neighbouring nations, though Israel captured these in subsequent wars. Through various negotiations and peace deals, some of this territory has been returned or given part autonomy. The largest of these captured territories stretches from the Jordan River to the central mountains and is commonly referred to as the West Bank. Originally, the boundary of this territory cut through Jerusalem, but the once-divided city is now wholly under Israeli rule. It is an important city for Jews, Christians and Muslims, and consequently is the scene of much tension.

During the thousands of years of Jerusalem’s existence, its shape has changed – valleys filled in, hills taken away, boundaries altered, areas destroyed and rebuilt. But the overall picture of an elevated city built on an uneven plateau remains as in biblical times.

One cause of tension between Jews and Muslims is the existence of the Dome of the Rock¹ and its associated mosque on the traditional site of Israel’s temple.² The site overlooks the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives, where, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus agonized in prayer shortly before his crucifixion.

Jesus met his greatest opposition in Jerusalem. He wept over the city as he reflected on its refusal to accept him and the judgment it was about to bring upon itself.³ One can imagine him weeping over it today. The modern counterparts of the scribes and Pharisees still promote the sorts of practices he condemned. And the religious descendants of Muhammad sell ‘Christian’ souvenirs to foreign tourists, only a minority of whom can truly say of Jesus, ‘He bore my sins in his body on the cross’.⁴ 1. A seventh century structure and Islam’s most sacred site outside Arabia.

2. Mt Moriah; 2 Chronicles 3:1; cf. Genesis 22:2 3. Luke 19:41-44; Matthew 23:37-39

4. 1 Peter 2:24

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem