Looking unto the hidden Zion: a Christian appreciation of the Holy Land

Abstract

The intention of this essay is to contend that the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ does not make Judaism and the 'mystery of Israel' redundant. On the contrary, it will be suggested that the glorified Body of Jesus Christ cannot be properly thought without reference to the chosen land and the city of Jerusalem which Jesus acknowledges in the Gospel story as the place associated with the destiny of Israel (Lk 13:33-34; 19:41). Once it is appreciated that Jewish Scripture has the character of 'storied place', that is, a place which has special meaning because of God's history of covenant lodged there, which is captured by the name 'Zion', then Jewish Scripture must not be regarded merely as background to the Christian story but rather the concrete ground in which it takes root and is continually nourished.