GETHSEMANE

Gethsemane means oil press. Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives on a hill east of Jerusalem. At the bottom end of the Mount of Oives is a graden and small grove of olive trees known as Gethsemene and at one time obviously also an Olive Press. Gethsemane appears in all four gospels. But appears in scripture long before Jesus’ time. David and Absolom in 2 Samuel 15:30 for example.

The spiritual meaning of Gethsemane is a place or occasion of great mental or spiritual suffering. It was where Jesus went frequently with his disciples to teach and pray and hang-out. After the Lord’s Supper “they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30 The most well known act from Gethsemene is the prayer of Jesus: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Matthew 26:39) The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us it is also where Jesus ascended into heaven. (Acts 1:9-12)

I have never been to Jersalem or Israel or any part of the middle east (and I have never wanted to go there). But I think I have been to a level of Gethsemene a few times like many others. It is a time of sweat, blood, fear, anguish, suffering and decision. It is where we ask to have the cup removed…or decide the Lord’s will be done. The olive is pressed into oil.

“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with me.” Jesus