Monday, April 6, 2009
Ashes to the Empty Tomb
Click on the Player below to Listen to the Audio Recording of Today's Devotion...
Click on the Player below to Listen to the Audio Recording of Today's Devotion...
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The Mount of Olives
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42
The Mount of Olives is 2,650 feet above sea level. The ridge is two miles long. Beyond the Mount of Olives is the Judea Wilderness. The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would come from the east through the wilderness and would enter Jerusalem. Jesus took this route in his triumphal entry. Some believe (Tradition) that the Mount of Olives may be the location for his return as well.
The cemetery on the western slope is an ancient one, though it is still used for Jewish burials. Some of the tombs along the bottom of the ridge were already old in Jesus’ time. Part of the reason Jewish people are buried here is the belief that the valley in the foreground, the Kidron, is also the Valley of Jehosophat (Joel 3:2, 12), where the final judgment before the Lord will take place (another Tradition).
The olive grove on the left is part of the traditional Garden of Gesemane. Whether this or some other place was the actual location of Gethsemane and the garden (the Bible mentions “Gethsemane” and “the garden,” but not “the Garden of Gesemane”), the location was definitely on the slope of this mountain. Probably the entire ridge was covered with olives in the first century.
The small dome of the Dominus Flevit (“Lord Wept”) Church can be seen in the photograph. To the right of it is a walled road. Tradition holds that Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem happened on this road. When he reached the area of the church, he stopped to weep over the city.
The exact location of this event is not given in the Bible, but this road does portray what the actual path looked like, and the church is in a location where the view of Jerusalem is spectacular. If not here, wherever Jesus did stop to weep, the location must have been similar.
Prayer
Lord, help me to remember the agony you went through for me when you prayed that night in the garden. Help me stay awake so that I can keep watch with you! Help me live each day ready for your return! Amen
Lord, help me to remember the agony you went through for me when you prayed that night in the garden. Help me stay awake so that I can keep watch with you! Help me live each day ready for your return! Amen
Posted by Tim Hetzner at Sunday, April 05. 2009 
Categories: The Mount of Olives
Tags: Ashes to the Empty Tomb
Categories: The Mount of Olives
Tags: Ashes to the Empty Tomb
This series, Ashes to the Tomb, has been very enlightening as to the times and daily life during Christ;s life here on earth. Thank-you for the knowledge and inspiration each morning. Bob
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Bob
Thanks for your feedback and comments!
To God be the Glory as we each explore the Mind, Method, Manner and Ministry of Jesus Christ!
Have a wonderful Easter!
In Him
Tim
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