A Lenten series on Mountaintop Moments
– Jesus on the Mount of Olives
(Click on the
link below to read the verses.)
Mark 14:32-42
[In this Lenten
series, we will be looking at Mountaintop Moments. These mountains are more
than just geographical features. They symbolize divine encounters and moments
of revelation, faith and transformation. In other words, meeting God on the
mountain top.]
The problem is that you only get one shot at it. If
you lose, you’re out. Your dream is shattered. Because of this, the further a team
advances, the greater the pressure. You can tell that these young men and women
are feeling it too. But, as intense as the pressure gets, there’s no comparison
to the pressure that Jesus faced.
Prior to and during Passover, Jesus had been talking
about his death. Three times he had predicted his death to his disciples. He described
the woman who anointed him as preparing his body for burial. During the
Passover meal, he told his disciples that the bread was his body, and the wine
was his blood.
When Judas left the meal early to betray Jesus, the
religious leaders had already made plans to arrest him and have him killed. Following
the meal, Jesus told his disciples that they would all fall away, including
Peter who would disown him three times. Jesus seemed to be walking into an inescapable
web.
Like vice grips, Jesus’ life and mission were mercilessly
squeezing him. Can you feel the pressure mounting? The pressure cooker was
about to explode.
With his disciples following him to the Mount of Olives, Jesus went to an olive grove called Gethsemane, which means “oil press”. During ancient times, heavy stone slabs were used to crush the olives under immense pressure, squeezing out the oil into pits where it was collected. This is a metaphor for Jesus.
While the others stayed behind, Peter, James and
John went with Jesus to pray. He became “deeply distressed and troubled”.
This phrase, according to the New Bible Commentary, “express the utmost degree
of unfounded horror and suffering”.
34 Jesus told them, “My
soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with
me.”
35 He went on a
little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the
awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba,
Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take
this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” NLT
In Luke’s version of this agonizing prayer, Jesus was
in such profound pain that "His sweat was like drops of blood falling
to the ground." You can almost feel the heavy stone slab squeezing the
life out of him.
Clearly, Jesus was experiencing the emotions of being fully human. And yet, in the direst of circumstance, he managed to submit to his Heavenly Father’s will. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had taught his disciples how to pray: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. They weren’t just words for Jesus.
One final thought. Olive oil had many uses at the
time, not the least of which was to anoint kings, priests, and prophets. The word
Messiah means “the anointed one”. Jesus, the Messiah, was the King of kings and
Lord of lords. Isn’t it ironic that he chose to go to an olive grove where he
was arrested. It was a pressure cooker!
Copyright
Feel free to share this blog with others.
www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment