Gethsemane

Gethsemane is on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. The Mount has become a symbol of hope for a future redemption and because of that it is the site of many, many Jewish graves. Some of these date back almost 3,000 years! Daniel explained to us that throughout the world most Jewish graves point with their feet toward Israel; in Israel the graves point toward Jerusalem; in Jerusalem the graves point toward the Temple Mount.

A lot of historic sites in Jerusalem seem to have lost the sense of peace that you would expect. Many have been commercialized or overrun by competing churches. I understand the desire to build churches at these sacred spots, and in some cases it is very well done, but other times it just leaves the place feeling overcrowded and busy. There are seven churches built around Gethsemane, but fortunately the Mount of Olives is big enough that you can still find a quiet place among the olive trees to ponder on that great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

One of the insights Daniel shared with us is related to the biblical accounts of the sacrificing of a red-haired, unblemished firstborn calf on the Mount of Olives. (He mentioned it as if this red calf sacrifice was something we were all intimately familiar with, so I played along and then read it in the bible later. Guess I need to study more). Anyway, in ancient times the ashes of the red-haired calf were used in immersions performed of those needing remission of sins. Daniel suggested that since Christ sweat great drops of blood his clothing must have been stained red and perhaps this red calf sacrifice is a symbol of that suffering. (A side note: the "lilies of the field" mentioned in the bible are actually red. I always imagined them as white and was disappointed to hear they were red until I was able to connect it with the Mount of Olives and all that has, and will, happen there.)

When Christ comes again he will come to the Mount of Olives clothed in a red robe. In that way his visit will be similar to that time in Gethsemane, but in most ways it will be so different. I imagine how joyful it will be and I wonder how it would feel for Him to return and remember that long-ago suffering and see the good it has brought to the world.