The first reference to the City of Jerusalem may be in Genesis, chapter fourteen, verse eighteen, mentions Melchizedek as the King of Salem. When the Israelites were ready to cross over the Jordan to enter the promised land, the city was called “the Jebusite” in Joshua chapter fifteen verse eight, or “Jebus” of First Chronicles, chapter eleven, verse four. It was never captured during Joshua’s conquest of the land of Canaan and remained in the hands of the Canaanites until David became king. His army stormed through Jebus and took possession of it, and He made it the capital city. Jerusalem served as the political capital of Israel during the united kingdom and later of the southern kingdom of Judah.
The meaning of Jerusalem for the Israelites is the city that became the spiritual center for the worship of the covenant God and special meaning for God’s people in the Old Testament. When God reviewed His law with the Israelites on the border of Canaan, He prophesied through Moses that He would choose a place to put His name as declared in Deuteronomy chapter fourteen, verses thirteen through fourteen. This place is to be called the city of Jerusalem. The temple of the living God is to be there. The city of Jerusalem receives names like “the holy city,” “the city of God,” and “the city of the Lord.” There are more nicknames attached to this city, such as “Zion,” “the city of David,” and “the city of the Great King.”
Jerusalem was the city where God revealed His Word to His people in the Old Testament. The place where God ruled over His people Israel. Jerusalem was a symbol of all that God wanted for His people. This city signifies His ruling power, holiness, faithfulness to His people, and commitment to be their God.
The meaning of Jerusalem for the Christian church is it was the birthplace of Christianity. This city is the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Jerusalem is the place Christ pours out the Holy Spirit on His disciples at Pentecost. The gospel message started in that city. Since then, the good news of God has spread all over the globe until now.
The church in Jerusalem was the mother church of all churches; and the home church of the Apostles. This city is significant in Israel: arguably the center of that country. It arguably has evidence that Jerusalem is in the center of the earth.