Gethsemane

"Then Jesus came to the Mount of Olives to a place called Gethsemane and His disciples also followed Him. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
(Luke 22:39, 41-44)

I want you to think about something amazing. It's a little deep, so you might need a shovel, but I promise it will be well worth it. The name 'Gethsemane' means olive press or oil press. Why is that important? Because this is a direct link to the Old Testament Tabernacle.

In Exodus 27:20 the Lord commanded the children of Israel to bring pure oil of pressed olives for the Golden Lampstand in the Tabernacle. This oil would cause the lamp to burn continually. To obtain the oil, olives were crushed in a bowl until the oil was extracted. This Lampstand was an Old Testament symbol of Christ. Remember, Jesus is the Light of the World. His Light shines in the darkness of this world, revealing the Glory of the Lord. The Lampstand in the Tabernacle did the same - its light shone in the darkness of the Tabernacle revealing the glory of the Lord in the Holy of Holies.

The oil for the Lampstand had to be pure, freshly pressed from the olives. On the eve of His crucifixion, the Light of the World (Jesus) was in an olive grove in a place called Gethsemane, whose very name means olive press or oil press! The crushing of Jesus' spirit caused Him to sweat drops of blood. These drops of blood were a precursor to the great sacrifice He would make the next day - a sacrifice that will forever proclaim Him as the Light of the World, the Golden Lampstand, that reveals the Glory of the Lord.

Jesus was "pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities..." (Isaiah 53:5). Because of His suffering, His Light, like a Golden Lampstand, shines continuously in our heart, lighting our path and consuming the darkness.

Lord Jesus, You suffered great agony for me. Your crushing provided the oil of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me and shines Your brilliance into the dark crevices of my heart. Thank you, Lord. I love You so much and appreciate Your sacrifice.