Tag: City of God

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The New City

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! Interlude” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭87‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On the return from the Babylonish captivity, Ezra inserts this Psalm written by the sons of Korah. The Psalmist writes about God’s affection for the mountain and the city of Jerusalem. A translation note says, “He loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” What makes this more poignant is that Ezra puts this into the book of Psalms as Israel is returning home. Home from 70 years of captivity. Oddly enough, Babylon was a rather kind enslavement. We know from Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah that some Jewish people were chosen to serve in very high ranking positions. The Jewish population grew while in the service of several Nebuchadnezzars.

But as the people were walking up the road to the elevation of 2,500 feet, the mountains above at over 4,000 feet, they saw the total destruction of their beloved city. Their beautiful, world-renowned temple was reduced to ruble. Their gigantic walls and protective gates, toppled and burned. Solomon’s palace, stripped and in shambles. It was good to be home, but home didn’t look the same. The sons of Korah wrote this when the place, the palace in all its grandeur, were in tact. But it was put here in Psalms as the refugees returned to chaos.

It is a reminder of all the things we hold dear, in all the beauty and wonder that went with the memories, that God is still in control and even better – nothing is beyond God’s ability to rebuild and restore. God, the creator of all things. God who made everything from nothing, an impossibility in our physical laws of science. God, who loved that mountain, that city, would see to it that it would return to greatness once again. And, as we know from the New Testament, God has even better plans in store for his most beloved city. There will be a new heaven and new earth. There will be a new Jerusalem, bigger, brighter and more glorious than even Solomon’s city.

Ezekiel lays down the prophetic hints that is would be coming in the future. The Jewish people thought that they would be building it, seeing it come to glory. Ah, but this city, this new build, would happen far into the future, when all things come to an end and all things are made new. This new Jerusalem is referred to in the Bible in several places ( Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22-24; and 13:14 ), but it is most fully described in Revelation 21. The city is a physical object lesson of our community, where the people of God will live in the presence of God. No matter how our earthly cities look now, whether grungy or grand. No matter our affections for the New Yorks’, Los Angeles’, Paris’, or Vaticans’ of this world. God’s city, the New Jerusalem will always be his favorite, because this will be the community of heaven!

Prayer

Dad,
Like with most spiritual things, I only see glimpses and momentary glances of such a wonder as this great city. And oddly, I only think about it when someone dies and we talk about their move to heaven. Either reading about this great city or thinking about it does inspire hope and an abundance of curiosity! I believe it’s real – all of it is real. It will not only feel like everything we’ve ever known as “home,” but it will probably feel like the finality of where we’ve always belonged, always lived. As a place, as a community, that is our hope; that this indescribable existence will be ours. However, the truth is, it will pale in comparison to your presence! Where your glory, your light and love will permeate every facet of our existence.

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Jerusalem, the city where messengers go to be murdered.

Reading Time: 4 minutes 
“At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem! “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers!” Luke‬ ‭13:31-34‬a ‭NLT‬‬

Pharisees WARN Jesus? How strange is that? Of course it was only “some” of them. Who was Herod Antipas and why did he want Jesus dead? Herod’s the guy that married his half brother’s wife, Herodias. Then hosted a party where his step-daughter did the magic-mojo dance and in his own inebriated state offered her whatever she asked. Then, daughter and wife asked for John the Baptist’s head! So Herod’s reputation for murdering a prophet had ruined the already thin popularity with the people.

There’s no way Herod would have followed through on this veiled threat. In fact, it is said that Herod himself instructed the religious leaders to spread the rumor so Jesus would take off for Judah and leave Jerusalem. That would be a win-win for Herod and the Pharisees. Clearly, the Pharisees were not trying to help or “save” Jesus. This is one of the reasons Jesus called Herod the “fox.” He was wicked-crafty!

It doesn’t surprise me that Jesus publicly declared, I’m not going to stop pursuing my mission because of threats. Herod didn’t control Jesus’ destiny! Maybe we put to much stock in threats, as if they determine our own calling, mission and destiny?

Then Jesus says the most shaming Jewish people phrase ever! It wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed anywhere else. Whoa.

Jerusalem, was the city known for where prophets go to die? All those Old Testament prophets that the leaders and likely, the people, just didn’t want to listen to – gone, killed to shut them up. That’s not a compliment on God’s own people, killing God’s actual spokespersons. Jesus’ stinging words echo out, Jerusalem, the city that kills God’s messengers… and, even God himself!

Whew, this puts a dark perspective on those stories Jesus told about the land owner leaving his property and entrusting it to others to manage. When violent men show up to take it over, the owner sends someone to warn the squatters. They beat the messengers and chase them out. Then the owner sends his own son, the heir to his own property. The squatters say, “if we kill the owner’s son, then the whole thing will be ours!” Not ever thinking, the owner will come back, not to claim his property but to enact justice for such disregard of life and ownership.

Jesus is telling the religious leaders and ALL OF CREATION, it’s once thing to claim ownership, it’s another thing to kill the owner’s son and believe they can; one, get away with it and two; control their own destiny.

There are those outside of God’s grace, belligerently denying God’s existence, and denying His ownership of EVERYTHING that exists. Plus they disdain God’s own plan to repair and restore the vast breach between himself and humankind. What else is God supposed to do?

This little scene should send shockwaves through humanity, especially in this “God is love and grace” era. Of course God is those qualities. However, we can’t excuse the brash, rude, entitled attitude literally challenging the creator to a old fashion stand off! Us, like tiny little fleas, shaking our fist at heaven and saying, “yeah, what are you going to do about it?” Not a good posture at all.

I believe in Christ and committed my life to him, NOT to escape hell or even judgement. I didn’t believe just to go to heaven. I could not comprehend either heaven or hell as a fifteen year old. I believe because I heard his invitation to be his. That he did love me and he would guide me. Looking back, I didn’t realize what a mess I would have been heading into without him. I came to understand that Jesus seriously DID rescue me and transform my life. He rescued me from myself and the path I would have taken to search for love and meaning. Jesus rescued me from bitterness and anger over several dad abandonment issues and not having a “normal” childhood or life at that time. I believe because I came to know Him through his word – the Bible. I have no intention or desire to run from God or to pretend He doesn’t exist or to be god myself. Nope, I’m his forever.

Prayer

Dad,
It is so good to read about Jesus’ determination of mission yet profoundly sad to read the resolution and disappointment in his words about the “City of God,” you’re city, your people. It breaks my heart to also see a mirror reflection of our own human stubbornness. In a sense, it’s like our “free will” went awry to not just do what we want, when we want but to also do so while running away from you and simultaneously blaming you for our evil decisions and outcomes. It just doesn’t seem fair that you have given us, all of us, so much and we just try to use that against you. That is the wickedness bound up in our human hearts. I ask for forgiveness and mercy, for we do not REALLY know what we do.