4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Luke 22:39-40 (CSB): “He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he told them, ‘Pray that you may not fall into temptation.'”
Reflecting on God’s Word
As I read through the assigned verses for today in Luke 22, I couldn’t help but “see” the location where these events took place. So, I will share some pictures and videos to hopefully help you visualize this scene as Jesus went to pray the night He was betrayed.
First, let’s look at a map. The red pin designates the large area called the Mount of Olives. The Temple Mount is on the left (west). The Kidren Valley runs north to south in the middle of those two places.
When Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, He was well within sight of Jerusalem. But the trees full of leaves probably blocked out the city and deadened the noise a bit. It is understandable why He would have gone to this quiet place to be alone with His Father to pray. There is something about being in the quiet and simplicity of nature that enables us to feel more connected to our God, much more so than we can in the bustling city sights and sounds.
Many believe the Garden of Gethsemane was at the base of the Mount of Olives. The map above shows it written in purple. Here are some pictures of the site that has been claimed as this location. These trees are very, very old, but the jury is still out as to whether or not they were around when Jesus went to this place to pray.
The Church of All Nations was built in the 1920s where a basilica and chapel were previously located. It is claimed (I, on the other hand, am not so sure) that it was built over the stone where Jesus prayed. The “Garden of Gethsemane” is next to the current Church of All Nations.
Here is a video I took from the base of the Mount of Olives. I looked up to the Temple Mount, and then I panned around to see the Church of All Nations. The Garden of Gethsemane is said to be the grove of olive trees on the left (north) of the “Church.”
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you realize your need to connect with Him in prayer.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into the significance of the Mount of Olives, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“What happened on the Mount of Olives?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 