Yeshua and Mount Olive...what a great connection!

Caught in the act (part 1)- Yeshua and Olive TREES

 Bible Texts (New Testament with keywords Concordance-CLNT: Text: John 8:1)

John 8:1

1 Yet Jesus went to the mount of Olives.

This week’s blog contains several teachings woven into one central message - Caught in the act. So, as you read, I encourage you not to rush through it. Pause, reflect, and try to follow the progression of each thought. There is something deeper hidden within this seemingly simple verse.

 

John 8:1 says, “Yeshua went unto the Mount of Olives.”

 

At first glance, this may appear to be nothing more than a statement about where Yeshua went. But could there be more to it? Yes! Please, let's see beyond the letters of this bible verse.

 

The Mount of Olives was not just another mountain in the life of Yeshua. It was a significant place connected to His earthly ministry, His suffering, His departure from the earth, and even events yet to come.

 

The prophet Zechariah spoke of a future day when the feet of Yeshua will stand upon the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4- the eon to come). In other words, this mountain has a connection not only with what Yeshua did in the past but also with what is yet to come.

 

That alone makes the Mount of Olives worth our attention.

 

But there is something else that fascinates me.

 

The Olive and the Life of Yeshua

 

Think about the olive tree.

 

Olives are valuable fruits. They have been treasured for generations for the many benefits derived from them. But there is an interesting process involved in producing olive oil.

 

The olive must be crushed.

 

The fruit cannot release its oil while it remains untouched.

 

It must go through pressure.

 

It must be broken.

 

It must be crushed.

 

And from that crushing comes something valuable—something capable of bringing benefit to others.

 

Now, consider the life of Yeshua.

 

Isn't there a striking picture here?

 

Yeshua, who existed in glory, humbled Himself and came into the world as a servant. The One who deserved honor accepted rejection. The One who was innocent was treated as though He were guilty.

 

He was falsely accused.

 

He was mocked.

 

He was slapped.

 

He was beaten.

 

He was spat upon.

 

He was struck and insulted.

 

He was crowned with thorns.

 

He was ridiculed by those who hated Him.

 

He endured hunger and thirst.

 

He suffered under the scorching sun.

 

And the One who was clothed in glory was stripped and exposed like a common criminal.

 

Then came the cross.

 

His body was wounded.

 

His hands and feet were pierced.

 

His blood was shed.

 

He was crushed under the weight of suffering.

 

What a life of the Olive!

 

The crushing of the olive produces oil.

 

The crushing of Yeshua produced something far greater.

 

Through His suffering came redemption.

 

Through His rejection came acceptance.

 

Through His humiliation came our exaltation.

 

Through His death came life.

 

Through His sacrifice came access to God.

 

What appeared to be the greatest tragedy in human history became the doorway through which humanity would encounter the greatest expression of divine love.

 

Why Would He Allow Himself to Be Crushed?

 

This is where the story becomes personal.

 

Yeshua did not go through all of this because humanity deserved it.

 

He did it because He loved humanity.

 

He did not have to come.

 

He did not have to humble Himself.

 

He did not have to endure the insults.

 

He did not have to submit to the cross.

 

Yet He willingly walked the road of suffering.

 

The crushing was not meaningless.

 

There was purpose in it.

 

The olive does not reveal its oil until it is crushed. In a similar picture, the greatness of what Yeshua accomplished for humanity was revealed through His willingness to endure suffering.

 

What looked like defeat was actually victory.

 

What looked like weakness was divine strength.

 

What looked like the end was the beginning of something eternal.

 

The Name That Came from the Crushing

 

There is another profound thought here.

 

Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, the name of Yeshua became central to God's purpose for humanity.

 

His death and resurrection made both celestial and terrestrial tremble and worship him as found in Revelation chapter 5:4-10. He is worthy to take the scroll from God.

Through his name, all things give way. Nothing hears his name and stand oppose. His name is key to human’s survival.

 

 

His name represents the One through whom God has made salvation known.

 

His name carries authority.

 

His name gives hope.

 

His name gives access.

 

His name points humanity back to God.

 

The One who was mocked by men became the One whom God highly exalted.

 

The One who was rejected became the cornerstone.

 

The One who was publicly humiliated became the One before whom every knee will bow.

 

What a mystery!

 

The crushing did not destroy Him. The crushing revealed Him.

 

And perhaps this is one of the lessons we should carry with us whenever we encounter the Mount of Olives in Scripture.

 

Don't just see a mountain.

 

See the connection.

 

See the Olive.

 

See the One who was willing to be crushed so that humanity could receive the benefits of what came out of Him.

 

There Is More to John 8:1

 

So, when you read John 8:1 and see that Yeshua went to the Mount of Olives, don't simply read it as a geographical detail.

 

Pause.

 

Think about the mountain.

 

Think about the olive trees.

 

Think about the fruit.

 

Think about the crushing.

 

And then think about Yeshua.

 

His life was poured out for the benefit of humanity.

 

He was willing to be crushed so that others could receive life.

 

The Olive gives us a picture of the Savior: valuable, humble, pressed, crushed, and yet producing something that brings immeasurable benefit to others.

 

What looked like crushing was actually God's purpose unfolding.

 

And that makes John 8:1 much more meaningful to me.

 

But I hope this small verse has blessed you and caused you to look at the Mount of Olives—and the life of Yeshua—with fresh eyes.

Lest I forget, mountain is a place high above where people live. A high altitude with spiritual connotations. 

Away from common multitudes of people just as  Moses was called up to Mount Sinai to collect 10 commandments (Exodus 19:20). Yeshua surely knows how to connect his dots.

Mount Olives - two simple words but carry powerful meanings!

For today, I have to stop here.

By the grace of God, I hope to continue next week.

 

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, comments, and prayers. They mean more than you may realize.

 

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. I would love to hear what stood out to you from this week’s reflection.

 

Grace and Peace!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

https://www.concordant.org/version/read-concordant-new-testament-online