Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites?

Aerial image taken from above

Mount of Olives which is a

Christian pilgrimage site because

Jesus spent time teaching from

this area.

A map showing the

different religious sites

of interest in the Old

City of Jerusalem

Task Read this information pack carefully, using the information answer the question

Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites? You could also watch a 25 minute to support you completing this work. The link is https://youtu.be/3inhQffPlAI You must include;

Use and explain the meaning of the term Abrahamic Faiths in an introduction

A paragraph explaining 2-3 detailed reasons why Jerusalem is an important site to Christians

A paragraph explaining 2-3 detailed reasons why Jerusalem is an important site to Jews

A paragraph explaining 2-3 detailed reasons why Jerusalem is an important site to Muslims

A conclusion explaining your own point of view in response to the question posed

You should not just copy and paste – all information should be written in your own words Can you challenge yourself? Write a justified conclusion explaining how you came to that point of view and why you chose that point of view over others.

Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites?

Jerusalem has been the holiest city in Judaism and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people

since the 10th century BCE.

Jews outside Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

Jerusalem appears in the Torah (Hebrew Bible - Christian Old Testament) 669 times.

Mount Moriah is where Abraham almost sacrificed his son and talked to God.

The Torah is also referred to as the Old Testament in the Bible. The Torah, Jewish Law, laid

the foundation for both Christianity and Islam.

Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites?

Christians believe Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God. Jesus, himself, was raised Jewish.

The Temple Mount is also of importance to Christians because it was a place where Jesus

Christ preached and healed, which created disturbances that lead to his Crucifixion.

Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was brought as a child, to be "presented" at the Temple

(Luke 2:22) and to attend festivals (Luke 2:41).

Jesus preached and healed in Jerusalem, especially in the Temple courts. There is also an

account of Jesus' "cleansing" of the Temple, chasing various traders out of the sacred places.

Jesus' Last Supper was in an "upper room" in Jerusalem, his arrest in Gethsemane, his trial,

his crucifixion at Golgotha, his burial nearby and his resurrection and ascension.

• Mark 11:15 – drove out sellers at the temple • Luke 2:21-23 – Jesus circumcised at the

temple • Luke 2:41-50 – Jesus visits the temple every

year with his parents at Passover, stays to talk with teachers and tells Mary he is in his ‘Father’s house’

• Luke 24:45-49 – The spreading of Christ’s words will start at Jerusalem

• John 5:1-8 – Jesus performs a miracle at Bethesda, Jerusalem

• John 12:12-19 – people recognise Jesus as the Messiah as he rides to Jerusalem

• Acts 1:1-11 – Jesus ascends to heaven and tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit

• Acts 22:17-21 – Paul tells of his vision of God at the temple in Jerusalem

• Revelation 3:11-13, Revelation 21:1-3, 9-11 – ‘New Jerusalem’ – a Heavenly replica of the Holy city

Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites?

Jerusalem is considered a sacred site in Sunni Islamic tradition, along with Mecca and

Medina.

Islamic tradition holds that previous prophets were associated with the city, and that the

Islamic prophet Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) visited the city on the Night Journey.

Due to such significance, it was the first Qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims and the

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) designated the Al-Aqsa for pilgrimage.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) declared himself to be the last prophet of the Judaic-Christian

Religions and he created the third monotheistic religion: Islam.

The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic sacred shrine in Jerusalem, built on the Temple Mount.

It was from the Dome of the Rock that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ascended into heaven

and was given the 5 pillars of Islam from Allah, which is still used today.

Part of Jerusalem's significance and holiness to Muslims derives from its strong association

with Abraham, David, Solomon, and Jesus - They are all regarded as Prophets of Islam and

their stories are mentioned in the Qur'an.

Why could Jerusalem be called the most important of all religious pilgrimage sites?