December 21 - Mount of Olives

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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.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” - Luke 22:39-46

Advent is such a great season of remembrance and celebration. It is filled with singing hymns and songs declaring that Christ has come. We read how our Lord left the perfection of heaven to take on flesh being fully man and fully God. He came in humility as a baby who was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. In the midst of our Christmas celebrations, we must not lose sight of why Christ came, revealed in his own time of preparation at the Mount of Olives.

We go to the Mount of Olives where Jesus went with his disciples on the night of his betrayal and arrest. He knew what was to come and He urged his disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation. Jesus went off a little further on His own to pray to the Father. His earnest prayers were so intense that His sweat became blood. Jesus felt the weight of the cup that awaited Him at Calvary. The Mount of Olives was a place of prayerful preparation for Jesus. To prepare Him to accomplish the mission that He was sent for.

The baby in swaddling cloths grew up to be the suffering servant on the cross. He came so that you and I could be forgiven for our sins, and this forgiveness is only found in Him. Jesus came to reconcile sinful men and women back to God. May this season be a time that we remember our faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Jim Peterson
Bethel Baptist - Ellison Bay 



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