Dear friends of Israel:

The view from the Mount of Olives is one of the most famous vistas in Jerusalem. What an overwhelming sight a traveler must have seen, walking from Bethany via the Mount of Olives and getting a first impression of the city and the Temple! The disciples were also mightily impressed by this scenery. This is why one of them said to the Lord: “… see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:1-2).

Until now archaeologists have not found a single stone of the actual sanctuary. They only excavated the remains of the enclosing walls which King Herod had erected in order to enlarge the courtyards of the Temple. Today the visitor standing on the Mount of Olives can see the golden cupola of the Muslim Dome of the Rock in the middle of the Temple Mount, exactly on the place where the Temple once was. Photographs and picture postcards showing this scenery may be offensive to many people. However, we can have the same assurance as Jesus when he made the above statement, and we can also say: There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. In that context we may ask the same questions as the disciples: When shall these things be? What shall be the signs when all these things shall be fulfilled?

The visitor standing on the Mount of Olives can see something else which is not as conspicuous but which may be less offensive than the golden cupola of the Dome of the Rock. It is the Golden Gate. In Jewish tradition this is the gate through which the Messiah will enter the Temple. This expectation is based on the texts in Zechariah 14:4 and Ezekiel 44:2-3. As Christians we believe that He has already come and passed through the Golden Gate. On Palm Sunday Jesus came from Bethany and passed through this gate to the Temple, riding on a donkey, as God predicted it through the prophet Zechariah in chapter 9 verse 9. This is why the Golden Gate serves as an encouragement for those who are waiting for the time when the promise of His return will be fulfilled. Although the Golden Gate has been walled up, presumably in order to prevent the coming of the Messiah, but this locked gate is like a memento of the resistance that human beings put up towards the King of truth. When He stood in front of Pontius Pilate, Jesus said: “… I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37). Jesus wept over Jerusalem because the city did not recognize Him and the things that would bring her peace. Today we can see that the world becomes more and more closed towards the King of truth and does not recognize what would bring peace. However, when Jesus stood in front of Pontius Pilate, he declared a further truth which is promising and also very deep. He said: “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” The unconditional and wholehearted love of the truth carries in itself the promise of eternal salvation!

Sharing with you this love for the King of truth and celebrating with you the feast of His resurrection, I am sending you a warm Shalom.

Fredi Winkler

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