Jesus and his followers become the new Jerusalem, embodying an ethic of radical generosity and self-sacrificial love.
Jesus intentionally provokes a showdown with Jerusalem and gets arrested, knowing his death will be his enthronement as the new Jerusalem.
The logic of the city is based on fear and violence, while Jesus presents a new way of living rooted in trust, radical generosity, and self-sacrificial love.
Deep dives
Jesus as the New Jerusalem
Jesus is identified as the new Jerusalem, bringing the fulfillment of all the hopes for a new Jerusalem from the prophets. He understands that the current city of Jerusalem is opposed to the purposes of God. Jesus and his followers become the city of God when they live out the ethic of Jesus, which is the opposite of the ethic of cities. The logic of the city is to preserve life through fear and violence, while Jesus' ethic is one of radical generosity and self-sacrificial love. The followers of Jesus are called to build a community based on trust in God's abundant love, even if it comes at a cost. By living out this ethic, Jesus and his followers sow the seeds of new creation and contribute to the city of God.
The Relationship Between Jesus and Jerusalem
Jesus understands that Jerusalem, as it stands in his day, is opposed to the purposes of God. He knows that he will lose his life by standing against Jerusalem. Jesus intentionally provokes a showdown with Jerusalem and gets arrested, knowing that his death will be his enthronement as the new Jerusalem. He calls his followers the city on the hill, inviting them to live out the ethic of the Sermon on the Mount and to build a community based on radical generosity and self-sacrificial love. Despite the opposition and suffering, Jesus continues to engage with Jerusalem, embodying the ethic of the new Jerusalem.
The Logic of the City
The logic of the city is to preserve life through fear and violence. It is based on protecting oneself and creating cycles of violence and revenge. The city operates on the principle of scarcity, leading to competition and the need to protect oneself. However, Jesus presents a new way of living, rooted in trust in God's abundant love and provision. His ethic calls for radical generosity and self-sacrificial love, breaking the cycles of fear and violence that characterize cities. Jesus invites his followers to build a community that embodies this new way of living, a community that remains steadfast even in the face of opposition and suffering.
Living Out the New Jerusalem
Living out the new Jerusalem means embodying the ethic of Jesus' teachings, which goes against the logic of the city. Followers of Jesus are called to live lives of radical generosity, even if it costs them. This way of living breaks the cycle of fear and violence that characterizes cities. It involves surrendering one's life for the sake of others and trusting in God's provision and protection. By building a community based on trust and love, followers of Jesus become part of the new Jerusalem, sowing the seeds of new creation and contributing to the city of God.
The Hope for the New Jerusalem
The hope for the new Jerusalem is based on the prophetic expectation of a renewed and restored city, where the presence of God would reign and people would live in peace and abundance. Jesus is identified as the fulfillment of this hope, the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. His birth signifies the dawning of the new Jerusalem, and his life and teachings embody the values and ethic of the city of God. While the ultimate realization of the new Jerusalem is still awaited, followers of Jesus are called to embody its values and contribute to the building of a community rooted in trust, love, and radical generosity.
As the story of the Bible unfolds, the expectation for a city of God—a new Jerusalem where Heaven and Earth will be fully united—continues to grow. Yet the gospel authors seem to think this new Jerusalem is most fully realized in Jesus himself. So if Jesus is the new Jerusalem, what’s his relationship with the physical city of Jerusalem? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss how Jesus and his followers become the new Jerusalem.
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Show Music
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
“Backyard Puddles” by Sleepy Fish
“According to God” by Beautiful Eulogy
“Passing the Time” by Tyler Bailey & Matthew Halbert-Howen
Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.
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