Jerusalem in the Christian Belief

Introduction:

– The Christian teachings are full of mercy and peace. They entrenched the idea of coexistence between human beings despite their differences.

– Also, they enshrined the purposes that bring two human beings together, on a basis full of affection and harmonious atmosphere.

– This is due to the fact that in Christianity, Jerusalem is associated with the story of Crucifixion and Redemption, which is the gemstone of Christianity.

– This is why we find that al-Aqsa Mosque is not that importnt to them like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or the Church of the Nativity.

– Christians don’t differ that much from Jews in their perception of Al-Aqsa Mosque; they believe in the Old Testament (Torah) as a whole without questioning anything in it.

– Yet, the fundamental difference between Christians and Jews lies in that they believe in the actual emergence of Jesus Christ, and that he was crucified and will return once again at the end of time.

The Golden Gate, or Bab Al-Rahma, in the Christian Scripture:

– Bab Al-Rahma has a significant importance among Christians.

– They call it the Golden Gate, and in their creed, it is where Jesus entered Jerusalem when he came to it, and the gate he will enter from, at the end of time.

– There is no doubt that Bab Al-Rahma is one of the prominent landmarks in the blessed Aqsa Mosque, and holds great significance for Muslims too.

The Status of Jerusalem among Christians:

– Muslims consider Jerusalem a sacred city and took it as their first Qibla.

– It has the same significance among Christians, because of the Christian belief that Jesus has died in Jerusalem, and risen from the grave in the third day of his death, so it represents the heart of the Christian Faith.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher:

– The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, also called the Church of Resurrection, is the most sacred church in the Christian World.

– Its building was initiated by Saint Helena, the mother of King Constantine, in the place where, according to Christian sources, she found the True Cross.

– This place is now known as the Cave of the Cross.

Jerusalemite Christians under the Islamic Ruling:

– Since the Omari Conquest of Jerusalem, it seems that Islam highly celebrates the People of the Book, Jews and Christians, where it refers to them using this pleasant name “People of the Book. It celebrates Christians in particular, as Allah the Almighty says: “… and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say: ‘We are Christians’. that is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant”.

– Also, the Qur’an talks about the followers of Messiah, peace be upon him, saying: “and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy”. These texts explain the status of Christianity under Islam.