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The Gospel began here in Jerusalem: with the death and resurrection of the Lord, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the first Messianic community.
Yet from the beginning, Jerusalem has also carried deep sorrow. The testimony of the apostles was rejected by many of its leaders, and destruction and exile came upon the Jewish people. But human sin and unfaithfulness can never break the eternal purposes and promises of God.
Jerusalem was chosen by God to be His dwelling place forever:
"For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
'This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.'"
Psalm 132:13–14
The city also carries remarkable prophetic promises. Jerusalem is destined to become a house of prayer and worship for all nations:
"Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts
in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord."
Zechariah 8:22
The prophets spoke of both physical and spiritual restoration. Ezekiel 36 first proclaims the restoration of the land, and then the renewal of the heart by the Spirit of God. Today, Jerusalem has risen from the ashes and expanded to the north, south, and west — echoing the promise of Isaiah:
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left."
Isaiah 54:2–3
Jeremiah also saw a day when the desolate streets of Jerusalem would again overflow with life:
"In the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate…
there shall be heard again the voice of joy and the voice of gladness,
the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride."
Jeremiah 33:10–11
Ja silti — työ ei ole valmis.
Jerusalem remains the spiritual beating heart of the world. Though physically restored, it is still a wounded and divided city — a visible sign of the spiritual warfare taking place in our generation.
Jerusalem longs for true "Shalom" — peace — but the city is not yet fully "Shalem" — whole, complete, and healed. There is still no true Shalom between Jews and Arabs. God's purposes have not yet reached their "Shlemut" — fullness. But God Himself is at work, just as He promised:
"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be still,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch."
Isaiah 62:1
Orthodox Jews and Muslims are among the hardest communities to reach with the Gospel, yet our hearts are turned toward them in love, prayer, and hope. We trust in the work of the Holy Spirit, together with brothers and sisters and the many Messianic communities in this city, as we press on toward the day when the Jewish and Arab inhabitants of Jerusalem will proclaim together:
„Siunattu olkoon Hän, joka tulee Herran nimessä."
We believe God will fulfill His promise to pour out upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem "a spirit of grace and supplication" — until the city of Shalom becomes truly Shalem: whole, healed, and filled with the glory of the Lord.
Zechariah 12:10
