Our Trip to Israel: Mount of Olives

We went to the Mount of Olives today that is simply across the Kidron Valley from the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount is in clear view from the Mount of Olives as this next picture that I took shows.

I also took a video from the Mount of Olives today…

 

At the base of this mountain, near the Kidron Valley, is where they think the Garden of Gethsemane was. Here’s a video from the spot that the Catholic Church has designated with a structure. I’ll also post some pictures of the olive trees there.

Most every Christian knows the significance of this location. Jesus went to this place after He observed the Lord’s Supper on the night He was betrayed.

Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

The Garden of Gethsemane is on the Mount of Olives. It was to this Garden that Jesus went to pray before He was betrayed. (It is interesting that the first Adam fell to temptation in a Garden [Genesis 3] and the Second Adam endured temptation by praying in a Garden.)

Matthew 26:36 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.'”

 

From Luke’s Gospel account, we realize that Jesus came to this Garden often.

Luke 22:39-42 “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.'”

Judas came here with the Temple guards because he knew Jesus spent much time in this Garden.

In Acts 1:6-12, we have the last words of Jesus before He ascended to Heaven. Carefully read the very last verse to see where they were when Jesus left Earth and went to Heaven.

Acts 1:6–12 “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.”

Did you see that! There were on the Mount of Olives when Jesus ascended into Heaven.

So, when He comes back, where will Jesus set His feet down upon the earth?

Some theologians believe that Zechariah 14:4 answers that question:

Zechariah 14:4 “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”