Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Matthew 26:36Gethsemane means oil-press place. It was an olive grove on the Mount of Olives with name that suggests a place where the olives are processed into oil. Oil is a symbol both of the spirit and of understanding. In order to bring forth the liquid (oil) from the olive, an oil press causes great pressure on it. Jesus is the olive root according to Romans 11:16, supporting every olive branch and therefore every olive in the tree. Did he experience pressure in that place? Indeed he did!. The tremendous pressure upon him can be seen to bring forth liquid in Luke 22:44.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.The external fluid came forth like the internal fluid. Gethsemane indeed!
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" 5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." John 18:4-8The point was made in the narrative of the above passage that Judas the traitor was standing there with them, together with them, not with Y'shua but separated from him. When Y'shua had spoken and we are told they drew back, we should note that the separation between them increased. Now, I'm not sure I understand the full import of their drawing back and falling to the ground, but realizing the theme of division and its contrast with that of unity, it would seem that their response to our Lord's powerful statement of unity, "I am he" ( or, I AM) must somehow be related to that profession. Compare this with Zechariah 14's account of our Lord's bodily physical re-uniting with the mount and its similarly dramatic effects. The above passage closes with tth Y'shua's entreaty to allow his disciples to be separated from them, which, of course, happens.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Mark 14:51-52This young man was separated from his linen garment on the Mount of Olives. The following declaration made previously in Mark gives insight into the matter.
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38A linen garment represents righteousness, (or righteous acts) so he had been clothed in righteousness, sanctified in the Lord's service. This man was young, immature, not spiritually seasoned, but he was following Jesus. This young man was separated from his linen garment when they seized him. His choosing to flee was an unrighteous act and the implication is that he lost the righteousness that was based upon his righteous acts. The salvation of his soul which was dependent upon his willlingness to follow Y'shua's leading to the cross was at risk and was lost in the time of trial. You may have a hard time accepting this interpretation on your first reading, but when you digest this presentation and return to reconsider the matter in keeping with the prophetic context, you will see plainly enough the message for our day. Do not be found naked, friend. If that young man had not fled, he would have kept his garment.1
Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matthew 26:38It was so intense that, according to Luke 22:43,"An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." It is said that the disciples, too, were exhausted from sorrow. (Luke 22:45) In comparison, II Samuel 15:30 declares:
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.The covering of the head was an expression of grief, it is true, but is it not suggestive also of prayer? This was and remains the traditional habit of a Jewish man to cover his head when he prays. (David and Y'shua probably were each wearing their tallith, their prayer shawl.) Prayer was the activity most earnestly and intensely engaged in by Y'shua and encouraged in his disciples while at Gethsemane. Unfortunately, sleeping was the dominant activity (actually, non-activity) for the disciples, in spite of Y'shua's repeated directives to watch and pray. David's barefoot condition suggests to me that he was sanctified, cleansed from the dust of the world's uncleaness upon his sandals and in special communion with the Lord.
Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. II Samuel 15:25aThe big deal about the ark was the shekhinah, the presence of the glory of Yahweh and the victorious power of the Lord. David willingly separated himself from the ark, apparently symbolic of Y'shua relinquishing something of his divine authority, divinity or divine access. Do you see how this compares vividly with our Lord's experience at Gethsemane? That is where he began to offer his very humanity, his existence in the fleshly body as a willing sacrifice. Good bye shekhina. Good bye to the exercise of power. Hello suffering in the flesh.
If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him. II Samuel 15:25b-26When David said, "let him do to me whatever seems good to him" was he not saying what Y'shua said at Gethsemane? Here are three accounts of what was said. (The prayer was similarly offered three times, three being a prominent number in Gethsemane's account - separation into threes.) Note that Y'shua is entreating his Father about a separation, for a removal of this cup from him.
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. Matthew 26:42Y'shua was strangely uncertain about what his Father is thinking and he was very concerned about what the outcome would be. How could this have been if there had not come a transition into a new phase of relationship marked by separation from His Father?
Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Mark 14:36
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8This death on a cross (and all the shame, suffering and pain that accompanied what Y'shua experienced from his arrest forward) was what seemed good to be done. Horrible beyond my imagination! I'm sure glad he endured it faithfully!!! And so what began on the Mount of Olives was brought to completion on a cross.... on a hill... probably that same hill.
So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."Apparently, what we call Olivet or the Mount of Olives, Abraham called The Lord will Provide. The ram caught in a thicket was the acceptable sacrifice that was provided instead of Isaac. The ram had been caught by its horns in a thicket of thorns. Horns in the Bible usually represent the power and authority. Horns come out of the head. The ram, or, male lamb of God, Y'shua, had a crown of thorns encircling his head as he went to be sacrificed on the Mount of Olives. He was, symbolically, a ram caught in a thicket by the horns.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Genesis 22:4Based upon my extensive study of this matter, whenever you read about something happening three times or about the third day, there's a prophecy about a resurrection hidden in the context. There are several triples in the account of what happened in Gethsemane. These triples and the distinctions between each member of the triple are very important. These threefold divisions are of paramount importance for those of us who live in the closing moments of the age. Their significance will be taken up in the next document in this series.What happened at Gethsemane is being played out once again at the close of this age, my dear friend.