The Gate into Jerusalem

The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.” (Ezekiel 44:1-3)

The Golden Gate into Jerusalem

Originally the gate was built during the reign of King Solomon. It was placed to the east of the new Temple because the sole entrance for the Tabernacle was placed on the east, in the direction of the rising sun. The priests used the gate to send the scapegoat away from the Temple and to take the Red Heifer to the Mount of Olives. After the first Temple was destroyed, Ezekiel said the Messiah would eventually enter through this gate.

The Golden Gate and the Dome of the Rock

In about the year 30 AD, Mark tells us, “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven’ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts.” (11:8-11)

The road from Mount of Olives to Jerusalem

The Messiah entered the gate on a donkey according to the prophecies of Genesis 49:11, Psalm 118:22-29; Ezekiel 46:12; and Zechariah 9:9. He spent the week teaching in the Temple, and then he gave the gift of life, according to the prophecies, on the cross. Jesus was buried in the tomb for three days. Then he arose from the dead, walked among his disciples for forty days, and ascended to heaven east of the Temple and its Golden Gate, on the Mount of Olives.

A bird's eye view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

It is believed that Jesus will enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate when He returns in what is called the second coming. This is because when the Spirit left the Temple in Jerusalem after Nebuchadnezzar deported Israel, the Spirit flew above the Golden Gate and over the Mount of Olives.

An inside view of the Golden Gate

“Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God.” (Ezekiel 11:22-24)

Looking from Temple Mount past the Golden Gate to Olivet

I have written much more about the Golden Gate and its stories in a kindle book - Israel: Stories for Your Journey. This $2 book is an excellent resource for anyone traveling to Israel. It goes beyond the normal guide books to tell over 250 stories about the sites most tourists visit.

An excellent guide book for travelers to Israel

I learned a lot about the land of the Bible through three visits and by writing Israel: Stories for Your Journey (1.99 on Kindle), Many questions and ideas I formed about stories in the Bible were answered through seeing and studying the geography of the land. I invite you to visit Israel or read my book to learn more.

Stories of Palm leaves & Victory

Today is a day of victory stories and celebrations with Palm leaves.  We all know that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst great celebration with people laying down palm branches and clothing to build up the road.  Why do we have this tradition?  There are stories, some of which have been forgotten.  

Having grown up in south Florida, palm branches are fun to wave and build outdoor structures (like lean-to's, pirate shacks, tree houses, picnic shelters, and Sukkot tabernacles).  Palm leaves speak of vacations in warm places.  Even in Israel the symbol of Jericho was the Palm Tree.

Palm leaves are symbolic and have been used throughout history as emblems of joy and victory (Ps 92:12).  They were engraved throughout the Temple, beginning on the basins at the entrance of the Temple.  They are used during the Feast of Tabernacles to show God’s bounties. (Leviticus 23:40)

The stories start with the triumphant entry when King David brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem.  “David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.... And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. (2 Sam 6:12-15)

Likewise, there was great celebration when Jehu was anointed King by the prophet Elisha. “When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him,“Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” ... He spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.” (2 Kings 9:11-13)

The Jews look forward to the time the Messiah will come into Jerusalem in the midst of great celebration.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9) “Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. 11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isa 62:10-11)

Stories of the Maccabees include palm leaves during two victorious marches into Jerusalem.  The first was when Judas Maccabee celebrated the recapture of Jerusalem with dancing, singing and palm branches. “The Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the Feast of Booths, remembering how, a little while before, they had spent the feast of Booths living like wild animals in the mountains and in caves. Carrying rods entwined with leaves, beautiful branches and palms, they sang hymns of grateful praise to him who had successfully brought about the purification of his own place. By public decree and vote they prescribed that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate these days every year.” (2 Macc 10:6-8)

Twenty years later Jerusalem was under attack again, from Egypt, because of poor defenses.  They appealed to their High Priest and Prince, Simon Maccabee for help.  He rebuilt the defenses and the raids stopped.  “There was a great celebration in the city because this terrible threat to the security of Israel had come to an end. Simon and his men entered the fort singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, while carrying palm branches and playing harps, cymbals, and lyres. Simon issued a decree that the day should be joyfully celebrated every year.” (1 Macc. 13:51-2)

So it is against the background of many stories about victorious entries and palm leaves that Jesus enters Jerusalem.  John tells us “The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (12:12-13).

Of course there are other stories also, like stories of donkeys ... but more on that later.

Holy Week

     During this week, the week before Easter we look forward to the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).  The Resurrection is the central theme of the Christian faith.  In this week, before our Resurrection celebration, we visit the events leading up to the Resurrection.
     First, we see Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  My daughter Sarah posted a great article on Palm Sunday here: http://www.examiner.com/article/palm-sunday-traditions.  Please take a look at it.
     During the week, Jesus visited the Temple.  He overturned the moneychangers tables.  They went to the Temple to make money (not to worship).  The wrong motives of these men upset Jesus.  What are your reasons for attending Church.
     Jesus told his disciples and others in the Temple, "these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples, The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” (Isaiah 56:7-8)
     During the week, Jesus prepared for Passover (setting up a place in the upper room, and assigning the Disciples things to bring to the supper)
     As we celebrate this week, let's spend time in prayer so we can fully appreciate what God has done.