John 7:53-8:1
And every man went unto his own house. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
When everyone went home, Jesus went unto the mount of Olives... What a
picture these words brought to my mind today! One can only wonder what
thoughts went through the Savior's mind as He walked there in the days
of His earthly ministry. There are many sacred associations with this
mount, as you'll see. It's the very place where the prophet Zechariah
had predicted that the Messiah would stand when He came to establish His
kingdom; the very place where He would provide a future avenue of escape...
Zech. 14:4, "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,
which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave
in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall
be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the
north, and half of it toward the south."
Yes, two hundred feet above the level of the city was the Savior's customary
place of retirement when in Jerusalem. Spiritual purification and refreshment
were waiting there, for at the Mount of Olives was a private garden which
Jesus often had used as a retreat...
John 18:2, "And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus
ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples."
How interesting it is that those who seek to destroy Christ make note
of where the
Savior goes to refresh His spirit and focus intently upon His Father's
will and way! This mount was Jesus private place where He rested, meditated,
and talked to His Father in heaven. Being one of Christ's disciples, Judas
knew this place of seclusion and exposed it. He brought with him a large
crowd, all intending to take away the Light of the world. They came with
weapons to arrest the Prince of Peace...
Ladies, don't think for a moment that Satan does not take note of your
quiet time with God and how important it is to you! He knows the exact
location and the exact time when your steps are headed in that direction...
It is at this very special place that he would come and steal you away
from fellowship with the Father!
Satan brings his workers and weapons with him hoping to arrest your peace
of heart and mind by taking captive your will. He seeks to conquer your
courage and convictions. I beg you - don't let the devil claim your mount
of Olives!! Stand upon it as firmly as your Savior did and guard it with
all your heart! It is a sacred retreat that should be frequented and longed
for...
Luke 22:39, "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of
Olives; and his disciples also followed him."
The road from Jerusalem to Bethany runs as of old over this mount. It
was a shortcut between the two cities. Activity surrounded the mount just
as activity surrounds your quiet time with God... It was on this high
place that Jesus stood when He wept over Jerusalem. Do you weep over souls
who care not for God, dear lady? The "mount" is so intimately connected
with the private, the devotional life of the Saviour, that we read of
it and look at it with feelings of deepest interest and affection. One
can't help but weigh their devotion to God in light of the Savior when
considering the mount of Olives...
Luke 22:40-46, "And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray
that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about
a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou
be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine,
be done."
Ladies, Christ's human will always completely yielded to Divine will!
It was natural for the Son to be perfectly obedient to His Father - even
in the face of great turmoil and personal sacrifice. How natural is it
for you as a child of God to yield your will?? Do you ever struggle in
your devotion to Christ as Judas did? The last time Judas ever set foot
on the Mount of Olives was to betray Christ
the day he made the deadly choice to serve himself. Yes, Judas lost the
battle with temptation that Jesus was prodding the disciples to consider!
Hence, you and I will never find strength to do right apart from total
submission to the Lord...
Luke 22:43-46, "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening
him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was
as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he
rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping
for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter
into temptation."
On this very mount the disciples received a "higher" education, amen?
They were provoked to see what the Savior saw from His vantage point...
Yes, Christ often sat with His disciples, teaching them to strive against
sin, answering their questions, telling them of wondrous events yet to
come, of the destruction of the Holy City; of the sufferings, the persecution,
and the final triumph of His followers. Here He gave them the beautiful
parables of the ten virgins and the five talents. And when the cup of
God's wrath had been drunk, and death and the grave conquered, Jesus led
His disciples out again over Olivet - the exact location of the first
and final appearance of the Savior on planet earth...
Luke 24:50-51, "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted
up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed
them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."
In closing, the last thing the disciples experienced upon the eastern
side of the mount of Olives was the breathtaking display of Christ's glory!
Though the Bible does not say so, I can only imagine that while they waited
for Christ's return, the disciples retreated to this sacred setting many
times over just to reflect upon all they had seen and heard in prior moments
with the Savior. Ladies, we too, are waiting for Christ's return, amen?
Your quiet time is a blessed escape to the mount of Olives and it's only
a sabbath day's journey away... Return to it daily for spiritual purification
and refreshment. Come to the place that Jesus did where you
forsake your will for God's and return to your duties with great joy!
It's definitely worth the climb!
Acts 1:10, "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey."
Luke 24:52-53, "And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with
great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
