The City
When some Pharisees come and warn Jesus that Herod is out to kill him, instead of fleeing he expresses that he needs to go to Jerusalem to face his rejection and death.
Jesus calls Herod a fox. It is not a friendly term! It probably has reference to being cunning, slinking round in darkness and devouring its prey.
In contrast, Jesus refers to himself as a hen wanting to protect its chicks under its wings.
Jerusalem is important because of what it represents. Jesus gives a lament to Jerusalem. Four times he sees and prophesies the future destruction of the city and wants to protect its people from that destruction. The judgment was because of the people’s rejection of Jesus and the prophets. The actual destruction occurred in about 30 years time, in AD70 when the Roman empire put down a revolt.
The City
Why was Jerusalem so important? It’s name probably means ‘City of peace’, the -salem being ‘shalom’. See ‘study Peace’ and ‘study Jerusalem and Babylon’.
Jerusalem is the example of the Kingdom of God as a city, people living and functioning together. It was never Jerusalem the place that was important, but the people it represents. The prophets did not speak about the place but the people who lived there. Jerusalem represents the people of Israel. When the people were taken from there into captivity, God was still with them. It did not alter His purposes for them. When Jesus gave the prophecy of the destruction of the city, it was the way of life that was condemned. He was establishing a new Jerusalem, people living a new way.
Jerusalem was the city on a hill where people from all nations were to see how a city should function, how people would live together in harmony.
It was therefore the place where Jesus’ story began with an angel appearing before Zacharias in the temple announcing the birth of John the Baptist who was his forerunner. It was the place of his death on the cross and his resurrection.
It was also the start of the new covenant with the Holy Spirit filling the disciples known as Pentecost. New Jerusalem, demonstrated by the church, began here. Some people seem to think the existing city of Jerusalem has some ongoing significance but this is not borne out by the bible. The new Jerusalem refers to people living by the Holy Spirit expressing new humanity.
The new city still has recognisable functions such as government and interactions between people.
Background
Luke chapter 13 verses 31 to 35 - Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to him (Jesus), "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal.' Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' "
Jerusalem is important because of what it represents. Jesus gives a lament to Jerusalem. Four times he sees and prophesies the future destruction of the city and wants to protect its people from that destruction (Luke chapter 13 verses 34 to 35; 19 verses 41 to 44; 21 verses 20 to 24; 23 verses 27 to 31). The judgment was because of the people’s rejection of Jesus and the prophets. The actual destruction occurred in about 30 years time, in AD70 when the Roman empire put down a revolt.
Jerusalem is the example of the Kingdom of God as a city, people living and functioning together. It was never Jerusalem the place that was important, but the people it represents. The prophets did not speak about the place but the people who lived there (e.g. Jeremiah chapter 3).
It was therefore the place where Jesus’ story began with an angel appearing before Zacharias in the temple (Luke chapter 1 verses 5 to 25) announcing the birth of John the Baptist who was his forerunner. It was the place of his death on the cross and his resurrection.
It was also the start of the new covenant with the Holy Spirit filling the disciples known as Pentecost (Acts chapters 1,2). New Jerusalem, demonstrated by the church, began here (Galatians chapter 4 verses 25,26). Some people seem to think the existing city of Jerusalem has some ongoing significance but this is not borne out by the bible. The new Jerusalem refers to people living by the Holy Spirit expressing new humanity (Hebrews chapter 12 verses 18 to 23; 13 verse 14; Revelation chapter 3 verse 12; chapters 11; 14; 21).