Steps to the Mount of Olives 

As I stood on the steps leading from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, it was as if Jesus was standing there by my side.  Tears came and trickled down my face as I realized that Jesus chose to walk down these steps and die for me and you.

 Jesus and his disciples had eaten their last Passover meal together and after he washed their feet,  he gave them some last words of encouragement and told them he was leaving them but would send them a helper, the Holy Spirit.  Judas had been sent away to betray him. After this, Jesus and His disciples left the upper room and walked the narrow streets of Jerusalem to the Gate in the eastern wall which is now called the Golden Gate and leads to the Mount of Olives. The disciples did not know this would be their last walk through these streets with Jesus in their midst.

These verses from John give us an account of these events. 

John 18

1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,”

They walked down the steps from Jerusalem, into the Kidron Valley, up the Mount of Olives to a garden named Gethsemane (oil press). This garden is in an olive grove and had been used by Jesus and His disciples often for a place of rest and prayer. John 18:1 describes the area as "over the ravine of the Kidron."

When Jesus left Jerusalem that night, he could have walked down these very stone steps . He had walked them many times before going  to pray to His Father in the garden or to leave the city. This time was different.  

As he stood on these steps, thinking about the hours ahead - the betrayal, arrest, beating, a mock trial, dragging the cross through the streets to Golgotha, the painful crucifixion and death - I am sure His heart was heavy and he was fearful of the coming days. He lifted His head, looked ahead and walked down these steps in acceptance of His Father's plan to bring salvation to the world.

Did he hesitate to take that first step down the steps?  Did he want to turn and go back through the gate into Jerusalem? Were the disciples pressing him from behind to walk down the steps not knowing what was to come?

Followed by his disciples, he slowly walked down the steps, across the Kidron Valley, and up to the Garden called Gethsemane. In Mark 14:32  it says “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

After telling His disciples to wait on Him, Jesus and 3 of His closest disciples went farther into the Garden. Jesus left them and went alone, knelt and began to pray to his Father for he  “began to be sorrowful and troubled” (Matthew 26:37). Mark adds He was greatly distressed and troubled and sorrowful “even to death” (Mark 14:34). He was distressed knowing that he would be tried, a crown of thorns pressed on his head, beaten with whips, and cruelly crucified on a cross. Being a man, he knew there would be hours of horrible pain and shame before he breathed his last breath.

 There  after hours of agonizing prayer and asking if it was possible that this bitter cup could be removed, Jesus accepted the cup he had to drink and gave himself to the soldiers to be arrested. He was tried by the religious court and the Roman court and was beaten, crown of thorns placed and pushed down on His head and sentenced to be crucified by the Roman court. Through all this pain and humiliation He never uttered a word in His defense - “like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isa. 53:7), 

A cross was placed on His shoulders and he was forced to walk the streets of Jerusalem  and outside the gate to the place of crucifixion.  It is called Golgotha  or the Place of the Skull. There He was crucified and died on that cruel cross for you and me.   

 

Praise God that this is not the end!  Jesus was taken down from the cross, wrapped in burial cloths, laid in a tomb and the tomb was sealed. A large contingent of soldiers was posted to guard the tomb in case His disciples tried to steal the body. BUT on the 3rd day, He arose and stepped out of the grave.  He is ALIVE and when we believe that He is the Son of God, and allow Him into our lives as Savior, we will one day go and live with Him for eternity.

These are simple, stone steps used by many through the years to traverse this valley but that night, they were steps of decision taken by Jesus to give His life for all who would accept his sacrifice and follow Him. It was a decision made because He loves you and me.   Will you take that first step and follow Him? Will you take that step of telling others about Jesus who can save them?  

These steps of decision are there for us and what will you do?

The Empty Tomb