Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus

and Jesus� Ministry in Jerusalem

Psalm 122

�I was glad when they

said unto me, �Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.�

Jerusalem

• Jerusalem: the Ancient One

• Jerusalem: the Holy City

• Jerusalem of Gold

I. Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus

• Estimated population was 40,000

• Swelled to 250,00 for festivals

• Unless Josephus is to be trusted

Jerusalem and Herod the Great

•  The Builder King • Masada, Caesarea

Maritima, and the Herodium •  Jerusalem and the

Temple

The Second Temple

•  Dimensions were impressive (doubled size of platform)

•  Work force numbered 18,000

•  Construction methods were advanced

•  Materials were the finest

Two Descriptions of the Temple

• A Disciple: �Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!�

• Josephus: To the stranger who suddenly came over the mountain, the

Temple was like �a snow-clad mountain for all that was not gold was gleaming white.�

The Antonia Fortress

The Royal Stoa

Temple Courts

The Teaching Steps

The City of Jerusalem

• The Upper City of the Elite

• The Lower City of the Poor • Herod�s Palace • Greek and Roman Influence

The Upper City

The Lower City

Herod�s Palace

Greek and Roman Influence

The Major Players

•  The Sadducees •  The Pharisees •  The Essenes •  The Zealots •  The Romans •  The Herodians

II. Jesus� Ministry in Jerusalem

Jesus� First Visits

• Parents came to �fulfill the Law� at his birth (Luke)

• Passover at twelve years of age

• Passover, Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles

The First Passover in John�s Gospel

• John 2:13-3:21 • Jesus cleanses the Temple

• Attracts the attention of major players

• Encounters Nicodemus

Jesus� Visit During Purim

•  John 5: 1-18

•  Pool of Bethesda

• Heals man waiting 38 years

•  Violates sabbath and more

Jesus� Visit During Feast of Tabernacles

• John 7 – 8 • On the last day, High Priest brings

water as a libation from the Pool of Siloam to plead for the rains

• Jesus teaches: �Let anyone who is thirsty come to me…� (7:37)

• And �Out of the believer�s heart shall flow rivers of living water…� (7:38)

Later at the Feast of Booths

• Four giant candlelabras illumine Temple Mount

• Placed in the Court of Women for all to

see

• Jesus says: �I am the light of the world� (8:12)

Jesus Attends the Feast of Hanukkah

• John 10: 22-40 • Jesus teaches in Solomon�s porticoes • �How long will you keep us in

suspense…if you are the Messiah…� • �My sheep hear my voice, I know

them…� • The Jews took up stones again to stone

him

The Final Week: Palm Sunday

•  John 12: 12-19

•  Jesus mounts a donkey at Bethphage

• Hosannas and palm branches

•  Jesus weeps over the city (Luke)

• Major players take notice

Holy Monday •  Mark 11: 12-19

•  Jesus returns to the city from Bethany •  He examines and curses a fig tree

•  Jesus cleanses the Temple

•  �My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations�

•  �You have made it a den of thieves� (Jeremiah 7 and 26)

Holy Tuesday

• Mark 11: 20 – 12:37 • Jesus teaches all day in Solomon�s

porticoes • Leaders ask �by what authority?� • He teaches about the wicked tenants • Jesus answers questions about taxes, the

resurrection, and the first commandment

The Rabbis� Teaching Steps

• Matthew 23

•  Jesus pronounces the �seven woes� on the Pharisees

• He closes his public ministry on these steps

Holy Wednesday

• Mark 14: 1-9 •  Jesus quietly rests at Bethany in the house of

Simon the leper

• A woman anoints Jesus for burial

•  Judas betrays Jesus

Maundy Thursday

• Mark 14: 12-17 and John 13 • The disciples prepare for the Passover • They find a �man carrying a jar of

water� • Jesus announces his betrayal and his

betrayer • �It is the one to whom I give this piece

of bread� (John 13:26)

The Arrest of Jesus

•  John 18: 1-11

•  Jesus prays in Gethsemane

•  Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss

•  Jesus renounces violence and �drinks the cup�

The Trial(s) of Jesus

• John 18: 23:12 – 19:12 and Luke 23: 6-12 • Jesus� trial before Annas • Jesus� trial before Caiaphas • His trial before Pilate • Jesus� hearing before Herod Antipas • Jesus� final trial and condemnation

Good Friday

• The Synoptic Gospels and John • The scourging of Jesus • The way of the cross (Simon of Cyrene) • The crucifixion of Jesus • The death of Jesus • The burial of Jesus

Holy Saturday

•  Lord, how could they?

•  Lord, is it I?

•  �We had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel�

•  Love and hate collided…would hate win?

Easter Day

•  John 20 – 21 and the Synoptic Gospels •  �Early on the first day of the week� •  The first witness – Mary Magdalene •  Then he appeared to the 10 •  Later he appears to Thomas •  Judas takes his own life •  The risen Lord joins two on the road to

Emmaus • He appears to 500 and ascends to the Father

The New Jerusalem

• Love and hate contends for Jerusalem • Love will win • One day, there will be a �new

Jerusalem� (Revelation 21-22) • Until then, let us work and pray in the

name of the Risen One • �Pray for the peace of

Jerusalem� (Psalm 122)

What You Might See Today

Pool of Siloam Steps to Temple

First Century Street

First Century Shops

Rabbi�s Teaching Steps

Mikveh At the Southern Entrance to Temple Mount

Double Gate to Temple Mount

Trumpeting Stone of the Temple

Temple Mount Step

Holy Sepulcher Church

Paving Stones in the Jewish Quarter

Kidron Valley

Hinnom Valley or Gehenna