The Mt. of Olives was the site of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew. It contains 97 verses, 61 of which concern readiness for the return of Jesus. It is also the site of the triumphal entry as Jesus rides down the mount and through the Kidron Valley. People threw their garments onto the ground as a sign of submission to him.
When the glory of God leaves Jerusalem in Ezekiel it is seen departing over the Mt. of Olives. When Jesus returns to the city prior to the crucifixion he returns along the same path.
We stop for a lesson at the Church of the Dominus Flevit. This is the site where Jesus reportedly weeps over the city. It is a touching place. Jesus would ride down this site and look over a valley and see the place of the sacrifices and think about the crucifixion in a few days. From this place it looks almost like you could reach out with an extended arm and touch the Temple Mount from Mt. Moriah. Jesus sees this view and weeps with compassion over the people of this place. It made me think of Jesus as a prize fighter walking alone to the ring, one person in the midst of a huge mob walking towards the fight of his life…approaching his destiny. Zechariah 14 promises the return to the Mount of Olives for the Holy One.
Near the bottom of the mountain is the place called “Gethsemane” which translates “Press Olives.” John 18:1-3 says that the disciples had a regular hang out and this olive press seems to be the place. The garden would be filled with olive trees for picking olives to make olive oil. This garden would have been the place where the closer disciples fell asleep while praying for Jesus before his arrest. Jesus went on ahead and fell to the ground in despair.
When the glory of God leaves Jerusalem in Ezekiel it is seen departing over the Mt. of Olives. When Jesus returns to the city prior to the crucifixion he returns along the same path.
We stop for a lesson at the Church of the Dominus Flevit. This is the site where Jesus reportedly weeps over the city. It is a touching place. Jesus would ride down this site and look over a valley and see the place of the sacrifices and think about the crucifixion in a few days. From this place it looks almost like you could reach out with an extended arm and touch the Temple Mount from Mt. Moriah. Jesus sees this view and weeps with compassion over the people of this place. It made me think of Jesus as a prize fighter walking alone to the ring, one person in the midst of a huge mob walking towards the fight of his life…approaching his destiny. Zechariah 14 promises the return to the Mount of Olives for the Holy One.
Near the bottom of the mountain is the place called “Gethsemane” which translates “Press Olives.” John 18:1-3 says that the disciples had a regular hang out and this olive press seems to be the place. The garden would be filled with olive trees for picking olives to make olive oil. This garden would have been the place where the closer disciples fell asleep while praying for Jesus before his arrest. Jesus went on ahead and fell to the ground in despair.
Near the site of Jesus’ anguish the Church of All Nations has been built. You enter through the garden which contains olive trees that are millennia old and probably were already in place on the night before Jesus’ murder. A few centuries after Jesus’ death Christians returned and seemingly built a church on every site where Jesus breathed. Each of the churches has been designed to reflect the atmosphere around the story it is memorializing. Thus the Church of All Nations is a somber and morose setting of blacks, browns, navies, and deep purples. The steel doors are designed with olive branches engraved in. The outside of the church is decorated with a gaudy mural, and the inside ceiling is made up of twelve seals representing the twelve countries that contributed money to build the church. This was one of two churches built on the Gethsemane site. The second one is at the Olive Press or “grotto” itself. Both had great beauty in completely different ways. The grotto church was simple in its’ anguish. The Church of All Nations was grandiose.
On a touching note, at Gethsemane Jesus would have seen the armies approaching from the Temple Mount and across the Kidron Valley carrying torches by night. Jesus could have ascended back up the short Mt. of Olives and escaped into the Judean Wilderness. He would have easily gotten away. The Romans probably would not have chased him because they were annoyed with all of it anyway. Jesus chose to stay. And we are here because of it.
On a touching note, at Gethsemane Jesus would have seen the armies approaching from the Temple Mount and across the Kidron Valley carrying torches by night. Jesus could have ascended back up the short Mt. of Olives and escaped into the Judean Wilderness. He would have easily gotten away. The Romans probably would not have chased him because they were annoyed with all of it anyway. Jesus chose to stay. And we are here because of it.
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