Lessons from the Olive

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08 May

Lessons from the Olive

by Bob Hamp | Blog Posts | 2 Comments »

Nazareth

In the first of many eye opening moments in Israel, our tour guide made a comment as we drove past a green freeway sign marked, “Nazareth 20 Miles”.

“Nazareth comes from the word “Netser” meaning “Olive shoot”, he continued, “this is the same word used in Isaiah 11:1 when the Prophet predicted Jesus’ arrival by saying a Shoot will come from the stump of Jesse. This reference to Jesus was fulfilled in double portion when the actual Shoot came from a town named after the olive shoot.”

“Fascinating”, I thought and tucked this idea away.

Then we walked through the archaeological site which was once the city of Capernaum. It was in this city where Jesus performed the most recorded miracles of any geographical site in the New Testament. This is also where Jesus made His second home once His ministry began.

Olive Press First Press

Here we saw a fascinating stone instrument, like a round table with a trough and a wheel-like stone that fit in the trough. Our guide explained to us this was for the “first press” of the olive. In the trough, one would place both water and olives. As the heavy stone rolled over the olives, the oil was released and came to the top of the water. It was the “first press” creating “virgin olive oil”. It was the most pure oil, and it was used to make incense and burned in lamps.

Olive Press Second Press

Then we saw another stone instrument. He told us that this was the second press for the olives. What was left of the olives after the first press was placed in burlap bags, and they were stacked next to the stone pillar. Heavy stones were placed on top to press more oil from the husks. The oil ran into the basin at the foot of the stone pillar. It was a bit more coarse, and so it was not used for incense and lamp oil, instead it was used in the baking of bread.

The third and final “press”, we were told, took place when the bags were laid out on the ground, where a trough in the ground occupied the lowest spot. The burlap bags were beaten with sticks or stones until what was left of the oil ran out. This oil, even more coarse was not fit for incense or cooking so it was used as the base for soap. Fascinating stuff. Again, I tucked this information away.

It was a few days later that it all came together for me. On the side of the Mount of….olives…you guessed it, there is a lovely garden known as Gethsemane. It commemorates the spot where Jesus prayed the night before His crucifixion. It was here He sweat drops of blood, bringing His soul in submission to the task at hand and preparing for the excruciating day ahead. We walked around the garden itself and then approached the church in this solemn spot.

The Garden of Gethsemane

As we prepared to enter the church the tour guide uttered the words that made the whole picture burst forth in my mind. “This church is dark, and heavy feeling”, he said, “it was designed to convey the atmosphere of this garden, Gethsemane means oil press or olive press.”

Suddenly all the pieces connected and I was overwhelmed by the great lengths to which God would go to say “I love you” to the human race.

Jesus’ prayers in the Garden that night, lifted up in the heaviness of the Garden, were the incense of the first press. The weight of our sin piled on top of Him as the burden of the human race, pressed again, making our Lord the true Bread of life. And finally the Roman centurions beat Him again and again bringing His blood to the surface and eventually squeezing out from Him all that was left of His life. In this act He became the cleansing agent that washed away the sin of all who would believe.

I was stunned, and overwhelmed. To a people whose very livelihood and commerce was the olive, God had foretold and then sent the Olive Shoot that would grow from the stump of Jesse and be both Food and Forgiveness to God’s people. God the Father, Master of multi-media communication was in full array for any who would hear. How could they miss it?

Today, God’s multi-media communication is on full display for all who will hear; don’t miss it.

2 Responses to “Lessons from the Olive”

so good! really good… this was my favorite part of Arie’s teaching in Israel last summer… your perspective makes me even more hungry to get the Father’s communication more clearly. Really great post… thanks

Jeff Jenkin,
Website: jeffjenkins.typepad.com
Awesome. I remember standing right there where this photo was taken. We should go there together!

Alan Smith,
Website:

Bob Hamp

08

May

Lessons from the Olive

2 Responses to “Lessons from the Olive”

Jeff Jenkin,

Alan Smith,

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