Bible Studies

The Olive Press

by Terry Barlow
03/23/15
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

It is said that there is at least one olive tree in the garden of Gethsemane today that was actually there at the time of Christ. Gethsemane literally means “olive press” and it is helpful in coming to this 26th chapter of Matthew, verses 36 to 46, set in an olive orchard, to know a little about the process of deriving olive oil from olives in order to provide light in the lamps of that day. The olives were first beat from the trees with long sticks or poles. They were then crushed under a large grindstone. If it was virgin oil they were seeking the olive skins were then put in hot water and the pure oil would rise to the surface, being skimmed off the surface of the water by hand. Otherwise the skins were placed in “mash sacks” Ann mashed under a beam being pressed down by a large boulder. So in all the olives were beaten, crushed, boiled, pressed and mashed, much like the language in Isaiah 53 used of the Messiah or suffering servant who was punctured, lacerated bruised, scraped, pierced and wounded in every imaginable way. Beyond that,  the olive oil which oozed out from beneath the beam (like the cross of Christ) was remarkably close in color to human blood!

 Some scholars think Jesus prayed in a little cave in the garden where there was an actual olive press. And Luke tells us he sweat great drops of blood like the virgin oil being skimmed by hand off his brow. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. When Jesus came to the entrance of this garden (where they often went together) he left most of the disciples there and brought only his inner circle deeper into the garden. He didn’t require much of the first group, only to wait. Of the smaller group he required more, confiding in them and asking them to watch and pray with him, though he went farther and cast himself before the Father. John and James had asked to be at his right and left hand, and Peter too had singled himself out for extraordinary things. We have to be careful what we ask, if we ask for intimacy with the Lord or to be greatly used of Him. Along with the answers to those prayers comes more accountability than before.

 We know what happened, these three did not deliver from their position of intimacy and opportunity, they came up short. In so doing they did nothing the other eight could not have done just as well. Eight because Judas was already busily about his task of betrayal. Three times Jesus comes upon his closest disciples sleeping, holding them accountable for it. After his first prayer asking if it be possible not to drink the cup, his prayer is reframed “if it is not possible.,.,,then..” He is progressively coming to a peace and acceptance that the cup must be drunk, the cup of the wrath of God or His holiness stirred into action against sin.

 In Hebrew culture the groom to be would agree on a bride price over a shared cup of wine with the father of the bride to be. It was as if Jesus was saying in his struggle, “Father the price is so high, must I really pay this much?” And the Father could only respond in one way, Yes, son, if you really want to possess this most treasured bride.” Jesus is receiving an answer much as Paul received an answer about the thorn in his flesh in 2 Corinthians 12, verses 7 to 10. Three times Paul pleaded even as Jesus pleaded those three times in the garden, and his answer was the same, “My grace is sufficient for you because my strength is made perfect in weakness. ” The power of God was pitching itself over Paul Luke a tent. His answer was “no” as the answer for Jesus had been “no” , but still it was an answer nonetheless.

 What Paul gained from his wrestling was continuing humility in the midst of an abundance of revelation. Jesus had gained deeper acceptance, Paul, deeper humility though stalked by pride. Now in conclusion let us imagine we are those close disciples of Jesus on that fateful night in the garden. Like them we have asked in our own words and way to be closer to God and to be of use to Him. We have an opportunity for a do over. We have seen how our predecessors failed, but we can learn from their failure. We know how Jesus urged them to pray lest they fall into temptations. It wasn’t only for the sake of Jesus in his darkest hour, it was for their own sakes that they needed to watch and pray to be able to handle what was approaching, that they weren’t quite able to see.

  So it is with us now, we don’t know exactly what challenges are coming our way but Jesus does and he’s exhorting us again to rouse ourselves and watch and pray with him. He’s searching for an intercessor and wondering why He is finding none as Ezekiel and Isaiah said; He’s sifting through the sand of our humanity to find something solid. He’s appealing to the Spirit of God in us. We’re responding to you, Lord. We’re pacing about and shaking off our sleepiness. We confess we really don’t know how to watch and pray as we ought, but we ask you to teach us. We may not understand you very well but we’re making ourselves available to you now for whatever you require of each of us and all of us. Help us to be faithful to you in this dark hour. We can’t do it in our own strength, but we believe in this moment that You’re pouring into us what we need, which is Your strength and Your grace for this challenge that we are about to meet and are already meeting! Amen.