Mt. Olivet is where the Lord prayed in Gethsemane. Matthew 26:30 (NIV) “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered “and Luke 19:37 (NIV) “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen.”- where the disciples rejoiced and praised God during Jesus’ triumphal entry.
Mt. Olivet is where we are reminded of his fellowship. That’s where the disciples fellowshipped with Jesus, where they prayed with him, where they learned from him, and where they praised him. We need daily mountain top experiences in fellowship with the Lord on Mt. Olivet in prayer and praise. In Hebrew, Mt. Olive means, “Oil press.”
Mark 14:34, NIV “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”
Crushing is the way of preservation in an olive. It’s also the way to get what’s most valuable, the oil, out of the olive. Keeping this perspective is how we can be troubled on every side yet not distressed … pressed to the point of being crushed but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8 (AMPCE) “We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;”
James 1:2-4 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
Through crushing, we get both victory and breakthrough. The process God takes us through brings us to a place where we can be all God has made us to be and achieve the things we could not possibly achieve without the crushing. God will not allow us to be destroyed, but His process is to use it to bring growth and breakthroughs and blessing in our lives.
The process of crushing requires us to grow in faith. We are called to have a mindset where we understand God has a purpose and reason for what we are going through and as we understand God and His promises we understand we can only achieve our potential in Christ through the process.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”