I’ve entitled our message today “Lessons from Olivet,” and I wish to begin by reading Luke 22:39, which is our focal verse. This verse says, “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.” This morning, I feel led to preach a message about the significance of the Mount of Olives; and as we see in this verse, Jesus was accustomed to spending time there. This shows us that it was a very special place to Him.
In Easton’s Bible Dictionary, it says, “No name in Scripture calls up associations at once so sacred and so pleasing as that of Olivet. The ‘mount’ is so intimately connected with the private and devotional life of the Savior, that we read of it and look at it with feelings of deepest interest and affection. Here, He often sat with His disciples, 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; [and] here, He gave them the beautiful parables of the ten virgins and the five talents.”(1)
The Mount of Olives is so important to Jesus, that it will also be the place of His return. Concerning endtime prophecy found in the book of Zechariah (see 14:4-5), which speaks about Jesus’ return, John Walvoord says of His coming, “It will begin with the personal appearance of the Messiah when His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, the very place from which He ascended.”(2)
A large amount of Jesus’ time in Jerusalem was spent in and around the Mount of Olives; and all of the accounts follow a sequence of events, one which I’ll emphasize as we go along. But what I want to do is share some of the ways in which the Mount of Olives was an important part of the life of Christ. We will see that it is a place of praise, a place of rest, a place of communion, a place of surrender, a place of blessing, and even a place of retreat – things not only important to Jesus, but vital for believers today.
A Place of Praise (Luke 19:29-30, 35-38)
29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here . . .” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
First in the sequence of events is the Triumphal Entry, which is what we observe in this passage here. The Mount of Olives is where Jesus was recognized and glorified as the long-awaited Messiah. Note how verse 38 says, “The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God.” From this passage, our first observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Praise,” emphasizing the importance of praising the Lord.
So, who is it that should be praising Him? Commentator John Gill says, “The Arabic and Persic versions divide these words, and read, ‘the multitude and the disciples,’ not only the [disciples]; but the whole body of the people that were with Christ.”(3) So, the second thing for us to realize is that it wasn’t just a select few leaders who rejoiced and praised God, but the entire group of believers who were gathered there on that day worshipped and praised the Lord. So, we can’t just leave the worship up to the leaders; we all need to be praising Him!
Verse 37 says that as He was drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, they began to praise Him. The descent is where the hill begins dropping off in its elevation. A. T. Robertson says that at the descent “they were going by the southern slope of the Mount of Olives. As they turned down to the city, the grand view stirred the crowd to rapturous enthusiasm. This was the first sight of the city on this route which is soon obscured in the descent.”(4) So, if Jesus was nearing the point where the hill was to descend, then He was actually at the apex (or the peak) of the mount. They began to praise Him at the highest point, which speaks to us about elevating the Lord in worship.
In John 8:28, Jesus declared, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He,” and in John 12:32, He said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Of course, Jesus was speaking of being lifted up on the cross in crucifixion. However, it is also true that when we lift up the name of Jesus in exaltation and glorify Him, and make Jesus first and foremost in our own life and in our church, that everyone will praise Him; and in praising Jesus people will be drawn unto Him. This tells us that if “we” will lift up the name of Jesus Christ and praise His holy name that we will be a light to this community and the world.
A Place of Rest (Luke 21:37-38)
37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Next in the sequence of events is the Cleansing of the Temple; and then we come to the Teaching in the Temple, which we observe here. One commentary says, “The newly cleansed Temple was the scene of His teaching. Each evening He left the Temple and spent the night on the mount called Olivet.”(5) “His constant method every day, till the feast of Passover came, was to go up to the temple, and there openly and freely preach the gospel to the people, who [gathered there] in great numbers for that purpose; and at night He went out of the temple and out of the city, and abode in the mount that is called the Mount of Olives; very likely to pray, both for Himself and for His disciples.”(6)
We know that Jesus was active in going about His Father’s business, and He became worn out physically and emotionally. Here, we see that Jesus retreated to the Mount of Olives in order to rest – and I can’t overemphasize the need for rest in ministry. God rested on the seventh day from all His work in creation (Genesis 2:1-3), and He commands us to keep the Sabbath as well (Exodus 20:8-11). The word “sabbath” means “rest.” In Mark 6:31, we read of Jesus, “And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” So, we see that Jesus advised His disciples to rest and get away from it all.
From this passage, our second observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Rest.” For some of you, our church is a place of rest, and I want to encourage you to maintain that atmosphere. But our get-away, as believers, should be only momentary. We cannot hide from the world forever. We also see in these verses that after Jesus and His disciples had gotten some rest that they went back out and ministered to the people; and it was a lot of people. The Broadman Bible Commentary says, “Each morning the people thronged into the Temple to hear Him . . . [Here], we note Luke’s fondness for the word all”(7) – a word which he used to mean a great multitude. We all need a time of rest; however, we must get back in the game at some time or another.
A Place of Communion (Matthew 26:26-30)
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Next in the sequence of events is the Preparation for Passover. Here, we read about the Last Supper, or the Lord’s Supper, which we celebrate every quarter. Right here, Jesus spent time having supper with His disciples for the very last time until He would eat it again with them anew in His Father’s kingdom. This took place right before they made their way to the Mount of Olives.
From this passage, our third observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Communion.” You see, we often call the Lord’s Supper “communion.” Communion is defined as the “interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions,” and as “association and fellowship.”(8) Now, fellowship is defined as, “friendly relationship,” “companionship,” and “communion, as between members of the same church.”(9) So, the journey to the Mount of Olives prompted fellowship. Fellowship and closeness with other believers is something we all long for. The Lord wants us to have close friendship and companionship with fellow believers – people of like faith and mind – and this is best accomplished by church attendance; or rather, being “involved” in a local church.
In Hebrews 10:22-25 we are admonished, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Commentator Warren Wiersbe points out that “the three great Christian virtues are evidenced here: faith (v. 22), hope (v. 23), and love (v. 24). They are the fruit of our fellowship with God in His . . . sanctuary.”(10)
Place of Surrender (Matthew 26:30, 36-39)
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives . . . 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Next in the sequence of events is the Garden of Gethsemane, which is what we observe in this passage. The Garden of Gethsemane was located on the Mount of Olives, and commentator John Gill says that this hill (or mount) was on the east side of Jerusalem, and that it was “the place where the high priest stood, and burnt the red heifer and sprinkled its blood. Now, from the temple . . . there was a causeway, or bridge on arches, made to the Mount of Olives, in which the high priest and the heifer (and the priests that helped him in this service) went to [the] mount. In this same way . . . went Christ the Great High Priest, who was typified by the red heifer, and His companions the disciples, to the same place, where He [sweat drops of blood] and where His sorrows and sufferings began.”(11)
Gethsemane means, “oil-press,”(12) and was the place where Jesus was emotionally “pressed” and underwent what is termed his “agony.” Luke 22:44 states, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.” “We must not think that it was the fear of death that made our Lord so agonize in the garden. He did not fear death, but faced it with courage and peace. He was about to ‘drink the cup’ that His Father had prepared for Him, and this meant bearing on His body the sins of the world. Many godly people have been arrested, beaten, and slain because of their faith. But only Jesus experienced being made sin and a curse for mankind.”(13)
Jesus underwent a difficult and trying time in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives which led to His statement, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” From this passage, and this statement, our fourth observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Surrender.” It is a place of brokenness and submission.
Wiersbe says, “Jesus was not wrestling with God’s will or resisting God’s will. He was yielding Himself to God’s will. As perfect Man, He felt the awful burden of sin, and His holy soul was repelled by it. Yet as the Son of God, He knew this was His mission in the world” and He succeeded.(14) Like Christ, we too must come to a point of brokenness; a place where we can say, “Whatever your will is, Lord, that will I do.” When we are broken and humbled is when the Lord can use us.
A Place of Blessing (Luke 24:50-53)
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Next in the sequence of events is Jesus’ Trial and Crucifixion; and then we come to His Resurrection and Blessing; and in this passage, we see in detail the blessing He bestowed on His followers and the apostles. We read that Jesus led them to Bethany. So, where is Bethany located? Well, listen as I share Mark 11:1: “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples.” So, the town of Bethany is located at, or near, the Mount of Olives. In Easton’s Bible Dictionary we are told, “And when the cup of God’s wrath had been drunk, and death and the grave conquered, He led His disciples out again over Olivet as far as to Bethany, and after a parting blessing ascended to heaven.”(15)
Jesus blessed His disciples at the Mount of Olives, and He gave them a reason to praise and be joyful; and so, from this passage, our fifth observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Blessing.” A blessing is a pronouncement of favor, a commissioning, and a bestowal of authority and power; and it was very important that the disciples received this blessing, for without it they could not carry the light of Christ to the nations. A blessing comes to us verbally through positive and encouraging words, and those words penetrate our very hearts and become alive within us; and they become powerful in motivating us to press onward into what God has called us to do.
Jesus’ blessing specifically included the promise of power from on high to fulfill the Great Commission. “God promised to provide the power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8), and He did. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the church and empowered them to preach the Word (Acts 2). After Pentecost, the Spirit continued to fill them with great power.”(16) The Mount of Olives is a place of blessing – and our church should be too! So, I want to ask us to consider looking for ways to bless every individual who graces the doors of this church – both our own members and visitors alike. Let’s be sure to encourage people to serve the Lord and complement them on a job well done, so that they will not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9).
“The last thing our Lord did was to bless His people, and the first thing they did was to worship Him! The two always go together, for as we truly worship Him, He will share His blessings. He not only opened their lips to witness, but He also opened their lips to worship and praise Him!”(17) Our first observation was that the Mount of Olives is a place of praise, and this is confirmed in Jesus’ last act before His ascension. Let’s be sure to give those who attend our church a reason to praise the Lord and be joyful by making sure they are blessed when they walk through the church doors!
A Place of Retreat (Acts 1:12-14)
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Last in the sequence of events is the Upper Room, which is what we observe in this passage. Jesus’ followers and the apostles obeyed their Lord’s command and returned to Jerusalem. The group met in the Upper Room where the Last Supper had been observed, but we read in Luke 24:53 that they were found at worship in the temple.”(18) So, was the Upper Room located in a house somewhere in Jerusalem? And did they go out during the day and journey to the Temple, and then return to the Upper Room at night? This is unlikely, for it has been suggested that “this upper room might be one of the chambers in the temple . . . for they are said to be continually in the temple”(19) in Luke 24:53. The Upper Room was probably located in the temple – not in a house – and that’s where they “sheltered in place,” to use a common expression. There was no going in and out.
Right here, we see that many of Jesus’ followers basically hid out in the upper room after His crucifixion. They retreated and fled the scene, because tensions were still high surrounding those who followed Christ, as Jesus was seen by many as a rebel rouser; and the same stigma was attached to His followers. But when they fled, we see that they did the right thing. They began to pray and seek God’s face. Whenever we are confronted with a test of faith or trials, or even persecution, our go-to is likely to flee and take shelter; but those in the Upper Room set a good example of not giving up, and not losing faith, and how we too should continue seeking and serving the Lord.
After enduring a test of faith, the Lord led them to a place of retreat, where they could continue to seek His face and continue serving Him, while at the same time watching and waiting for Him to reveal Himself and His will. From this passage, our sixth and final observation is that the Mount of Olives is “A Place of Retreat” – as in a place of safety and spiritual growth, as we abide with the Lord.
Perhaps we have found our own upper room and safe haven from the war and persecution outside; however, we know that Jesus’ followers eventually went out into the midst of persecution to tell others about salvation in Christ. We cannot spend forever fleeing from the world, but we must eventually go out and be what God has called us to be – and this goes for all of us. The world and the culture are changing, and we could easily be tempted to hide in this safe haven until we go on to be with the Lord; however, we have to leave the church walls to tell the world the message of salvation.
Time of Reflection
So, allow me to close with an observation from endtime prophecy. We read in Zechariah 14:4-5, and verse 8, that when the Messiah returns that, “The Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley . . . Thus, the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You . . . and in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem.” When Christ returns, the road to freedom and the road to God will run through the Mount of Olives. The Messiah who stands on the Mount of Olives in this prophecy is Jesus, and He can help you too find freedom – that is, freedom from your sins.
Zechariah said that “in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem” (14:8). The living waters of salvation that originate with Jesus will flow freely in the day of His return. The book of Revelation says of the New Jerusalem – or heaven – that there will be “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water . . . Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:10, 14).
The same Savior to which people will flee during Christ’s return, as they pass through the Mount of Olives, is the same Savior to which we can run to find our rescue from the penalty of sin. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” – which is spiritual death in hell – but “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And He offers you His living water this very moment; the water that springs forth into everlasting life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” As we have a time of invitation, I wish to extend an opportunity for you to come and confess your faith in Jesus Christ, and to proclaim Him as Savior and Lord of your life.
NOTES
(1) M. G. Easton, “Mount of Olives,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Oak Harbor, WA: 1996, taken from Logos 2.1E on CD-ROM.
(2) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc., 1983, 1985, taken from Logos 2.1E on CD-ROM.
(3) John Gill, “John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible,” Bible Study Tools: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/luke-19-37.html (Accessed September 23, 2021).
(4) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930).
(5) Malcolm O. Tolbert, “Luke,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 9 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), pp. 163-164.
(6) John Gill.
(7) Tolbert, p. 164.
(8) “Communion,” Dictionary.com Unabridged, taken from the Internet in June of 2007 at http://www.dictionary.com.
(9) “Fellowship,” Dictionary.com: dictionary.reference.com/browse/fellowship?s=t (Accessed April 17, 2014).
(10) Warren Wiersbe, “The Complete New Testament in One Volume,” The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 833.
(11) John Gill.
(12) Easton, “Gethsemane.”
(13) Wiersbe, p. 79.
(14) Ibid., p. 79.
(15) Easton, “Mount of Olives.”
(16) Wiersbe, p. 225.
(17) Ibid., p. 225.
(18) Ibid., p. 323.
(19) John Gill.
