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Did Jesus Live in "Occupied Territory"?
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DID JESUS LIVE IN “OCCUPIED TERRITORY”?
By Jan Markell
A delusion of many years will not die—that is that the solution to much of the world’s
problems is the creation of a Palestinian State in the heartland of Israel. The effort thus
far has been fruitless, and the failure nothing short of abysmal. But dreams and delusions
die hard and this one will not go away. And while most nations sign on to the idea, the
cheerleader-in-chief is our own State Department.
What’s wrong with the idea? It will strengthen the Islamic world’s determination to do
away completely with the Jewish state. It rewards terrorism and appeasement never
works. And while there are many Palestinian people who want to raise their families and
live in peace, the Palestinian leadership, even without Yaser Arafat, is inherently so
corrupt little good can come from them.
One thing is being overlooked in the controversy: A Palestinian State would shatter the
biblical foundations on which much of Christianity and Judaism stand. The specific land
that the Jewish people are being asked, ordered, and even coerced into surrendering is the
very cradle of its existence as a nation. This includes specific areas God entered into an
eternal covenant with Abraham promising him ownership of the land forever. All you
read about in the Bible concerning Judea and Samaria took place in areas that would be
given over to questionable leadership. The area surrendered houses the tombs of Joseph,
Samuel, and King David.
Here Abraham built altars. The area was home to the prophet Samuel. In the land given
up lies Bethlehem, and Jerusalem is being demanded as a capital for this state—the City
of David and the headquarters of our soon-coming King.
In “Palestine-in-the-making” lie Bethany where Lazarus was raised, the Mount of Olives
where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and Gethsemane where He was arrested. Here was
Pilate’s courtyard, the Via Dolorosa where Jesus stumbled under His cross, and Golgotha
where He died. The Garden Tomb was here as well.
If the world gets its way with this Palestinian State, it would be the home to the most
glittering prize of all, the Temple Mount, the place where the God of Israel chose to place
His Name forever. It is the hill on which Abraham offered up Isaac, and the site of the
first and second temple. The future Millennial Temple where the Messiah is destined to
rule will also rest on that spot.
Today this area is called “occupied territory.” Others call it “disputed territory” but to
God it is neither. Israelis live here and many of them are called “settlers” as they’ve come
from many nations to build up the land in what is often some rugged conditions.
One really has to wonder if Jesus were alive today if He would be criticized by our State
Department, the United Nations, the European Union, and more, as being an “obstacle to
peace” living in “occupied territory”? Would He just be an inconvenient “settler”?
The bottom line is that Islam would wield control over much that is sacred to Jews and
Christians. To partition God’s Land with the formation of a Palestinian State will sever
both Jews and Christians from their roots, from the past, and could tarnish their future.
America’s leaders have a choice to make. They can listen to the prophets of old in the
Bible or to mortal men who do not have any concern for the interests of Jews, Christians,
the Bible, or God.
Little wonder the Psalmist commands us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…..” (Ps.
122:6).