Jerusalem?s Temple Mount was an impressive structure. Herod the Great expanded the former temple area to a length greater than four football fields by filling in huge retaining walls with earth. He constructed a magnificent temple modeled after the original temple Solomon built years before.
Click here to see a diagram of the Temple Mount development
Just south of the Temple Mount stood David?s City, the Jerusalem of David?s time. This section of Jerusalem was about ten acres in size, and was flanked by the Kidron Valley to the east and the Tyropean Valley to the west. Religious pilgrims visiting the Temple passed through David?s City before entering the southern entrances of the Temple Mount.
Jesus probably visited both of those areas during his life. His family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover each year, likely passing through David?s City before reaching the Temple Mount (see Luke 2:41).
It was in the temple courts that Jesus and his family worshiped during their Passover journeys. Even as a boy, Jesus began sharing his passion for the Text, and it was on the Temple Mount where he, as a boy of twelve, impressed the teachers of the law (Luke 2:41?52).
Jesus returned to the Temple Mount as an adult and spoke passionately about God?s kingdom, even when it angered and offended Temple leaders. Jesus drove the moneychangers from the Temple Mount (Luke 19:45?49). There he responded to the questions of the Pharisees and Sadducees and pronounced his judgment on the hypocrisy of the religious elite (Matt. 21:23?23:39).
We do not know for certain that Jesus walked through David?s City as an adult. But it was fitting that Jesus? final days were spent in Jerusalem?the city founded by King David. Sadly, the Temple leaders never recognized Jesus for who he was?the greatest king of all. They rejected his message of peace and began to plot his death.
