Q: What is the importance of Jerusalem to the christian people #
?What are the christian beliefs regarding to Jerusalem #
? Is there any significance or importance to the soil in Jerusalem #
? Is there any importance or believe for barrel in Jerusalem or her soil
and if so is there any proof or reference in the Bible (sic)
A: Thank you for your questions. I will try my best to give you an answer.
What is the importance of Jerusalem to the Christian people/Christian beliefs regarding Jerusalem? Depending on your perspective Jerusalem may or may not play an important role to Christians. From a historical standpoint, Jerusalem is important to Christians because it is the central location of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith. So much so, that Jesus mentioned Jerusalem by name in His Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:34-35 says, "But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King." However, when it comes to our lives as Christians and how we live, the city of Jerusalem does not play a significant role, if any at all. The Christian life is about getting to know our God, through faith in Jesus Christ, and learning to trust and depend on Him. The city of Jerusalem does not play a role in that endeavor. If there is any significance in Jerusalem, it is found in the name of the city. Jerusalem literally means "foundation of peace." Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), is the foundation of our faith who has given us peace with God (Romans 5:1) through His death, burial and resurrection.
Is there any significance or importance to the soil in Jerusalem? No, I would not say there is any significance to the soil in Jerusalem. Again, from a historical standpoint, soil or land played a role within the context of Judaism and the Mosaic Law. All wealth is derived from the land or soil. Whether it is through owning the land or mining the land for its resources, wealth can be obtained, which is the foundation of a prosperous society. God demanded the nation of Israel give Him a tithe from the land (Leviticus 27:30). In order for the Jewish people to have a place to settle, God spoke of the Promised Land (Exodus 3:8). From the standpoint of a Christian, we are not necessarily promised any land, but Jesus used soil as a metaphor to explain the receptiveness of people to the Gospel message. In the Parable of the Sower and Soils (Mark 4:1-9), Jesus compared a Christian to a sower who went out to sow seed (preach the Gospel). Some seed, the Gospel, was taken by birds; not received. Some seed fell on shallow soil, sprang up, but was later scorched by the sun. This describes people who eagerly accept the message, but they soon abandon it because it didn't take root in their hearts. There is seed that fell amongst the thorns and was choked out, yielding no crop. This describes how the Gospel message can be undermined by legalistic teachings of believers and false teachings by unbelievers. And finally, there is good seed which takes root, grows and increases. This describes what happens when the Gospel message is received eagerly, accepted enthusiastically and spread generously by believers.
Is there any importance or believe for barrel in Jerusalem or her soil? (sic) I am not quite certain what you mean by "barrel" in your question. I am going to assume that you meant to say "burial," as in a grave where you put a dead person. If I am incorrect, please accept my apologies. If you indeed meant to say burial, the answer again is "no." There is not any significance to a person being buried in Jerusalem, or any particularly place for that matter. But, Jesus used the topic of burial to make a spiritual point. "And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home (Luke 9:59-61).” The key to this exchange is where Jesus said allow the "dead to bury their own dead." He was mixing the physical with the spiritual. What He meant was to allow those spiritually dead to God bury those who have physically died and passed away. This is key to the topic of salvation because salvation is the restoration of the life of God. Therefore, the spiritually dead, those who have not come to faith in Jesus Christ, need to have the life of God, made available as a free gift through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, restored to them before they physically die.
I trust that this sheds some light on your questions. May God continue to reveal to you the blessings you already have through faith in Jesus Christ.
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