#WALKWITHJESUS 4

“Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and throw stones in order to kill those who are sent to you.”

Matthew 23:37

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11; Matthew 27:22-25; Luke 13: 33; Luke 20:45-47; John 4: 1-42

What is it with Jerusalem? Since David’s capture of the city, on through the Exile, the return from exile through to the birth and death of Jesus Christ and on into modern times, it has been vital..and controversial. The status of Jerusalem is still under dispute and has been described as “one of the most intractable issues in the Israel-Palestine conflict.” It’s been the spiritual home of the Jews since Bible times and during the classical era was considered by everyone to be the centre of the world and the place of God’s residing. Even Jesus said he had to die in Jerusalem, for no prophet could die outside of Jerusalem. And God refers to the new home that He is preparing for those in Christ as the New Jerusalem.

From the earliest times God chose the place where His people would come together to worship Him. There were special places; the tabernacle in the desert, the Ark of the Covenant at Gilgal, the first temple in Jerusalem that Solomon built, the Second Temple built by Herod.

Then one day, Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman at the well where he was resting.

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Jesus death and resurrection removed the restriction of a certain place and/or time when we can interact with him. When we choose to make Jesus the Lord of our life, we have instant access to God, at any time of the day or night, anywhere that we are!

Why don’t you try it right now? Simply say. “Jesus, I am all yours!”

Prayer

Dear Father God, thank You for opening the way so that I can dialogue with You, the Creator of everything, anywhere. 

For the family

Download this 15-day devotional study about Easter that is suitable for children. Do one a day for the next 15 days.