What is the significance of the Western Wall / Wailing Wall in Jerusalem?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Western Wall is a two-thousand-year-old retaining wall built on the western side of the temple mount in Jerusalem, dating from the time of Herod the Great. Herod expanded the second temple that Zerubbabel supervised the rebuilding of, as indicated in chapters three and five of Ezra. The Jews consider the Western Wall a holy place because of its proximity to where the Holy of Holies was situated in the temple (Exodus 26:31-34; Leviticus 16:2, 15-17). Christians appreciate its historical value but do not see it as a holy place since believers have access to God through faith in Christ (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18) and are indwelt with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

The Western Wall is important to Jews because it is the closest geographically they can get to the former site of the temple without being under Islamic jurisdiction. Scripture indicates that this will not always be the case. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and Revelation 13:14 say that at the midpoint of the tribulation the Antichrist will place an image in the Jewish temple for people to worship. This prophecy implies that, at some point prior, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt. Isaiah 2:2-4 and Ezekiel 40:1—46:24 describe the restoration and the use of the temple during the millennial kingdom. For Christians today, the Western Wall is a fascinating piece of history but not essential to Christian faith.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Jews consider the Western Wall a holy place (more so than the other three remaining support walls) because of its proximity to where the Holy of Holies was situated in the temple. The Holy of Holies was the place in the tabernacle (later the temple) where God’s presence was said to be; only a priest could enter it, just once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 26:31-34; Leviticus 16:2,15-17).
• The Western Wall dates back to Herod the Great, who decided to expand the second temple that Zerubbabel had helped rebuild after Babylonian exile (Ezra 3).
• Daniel 9:27 is a prophecy that some believe shows that at the midpoint of the tribulation the Antichrist will place an image in the Jewish temple for people to worship. This prophecy implies that, at some point prior, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt.
• Isaiah 2:2-4 and Ezekiel 40:1—46:24 describe the restoration and the use of the temple during the millennial kingdom.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The proximity of the Western Wall to where the Holy of Holies was in the temple makes it special to the Jews. A curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple because God’s presence was in that part of the temple, so only the priest could enter that area once a year on the Day of Atonement. When Christ died, that curtain was torn (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that believers now have access to God through Christ.
• While Jews pray to God facing a stone wall built by a long-gone king, the Holy Spirit dwells within Christians, making the Western Wall a historical treasure but not a significant part of the Christian faith (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
• Along with the Old Testament prophecy in Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 13:14 imply a rebuilt Jewish temple.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Walls protect and separate. The Western Wall in Jerusalem, holy to the Jews because of its proximity to the Holy of Holies in the temple, does both. The presence of God–said to have dwelled above the Mercy Seat within the Holy of Holies–-protected and guided the Jews (Exodus 25:21-22; Numbers 10:33-36). Yet it also separated them from the holiness of God by its own “wall” of sorts—a curtain—to remind the people that God is holy and they were not (Exodus 26:33; Leviticus 16:2).

Today, believers have access to the Lord God through Christ. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who protects and guides us. The Western Wall, then, holds no special religious significance to Christians because we know that God does not dwell in one place but is always with us. Our Christian witness to our Jewish friends should point them, not toward a wall, but toward the only One who can help them draw near to God: Christ.

UNDERSTAND

• The Western Wall is holy to Jews as the closest point to the Holy of Holies.
• Christians see the Western Wall as historical, not spiritual, since God dwells in believers.
• Prophecy points to a future rebuilt Jewish temple.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that you have direct access to God through Christ change the way you view holy places like the Western Wall?
• How does the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life guide and protect you?
• How can you respect the Jewish significance of the Western Wall while keeping Christ at the center of your faith?

ENGAGE

• How does the Western Wall illustrate the difference between the Old Covenant access to God and the New Covenant through Christ?
• What can we learn from the historical and prophetic significance of the Jewish temple and its walls?
• How might understanding the Western Wall help us better witness to Jewish friends about the access we have to God in Christ?