Jesus Prays in a Peaceful Garden
A long time ago, olive oil was prepared by crushing olives in a large wooden or stone bowl called a mortar. Oil presses were also used. “Gethsemane” comes from the Hebrew for “oil press”. The Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray before He went to the cross, may have held an oil press. Numerous olive trees grew on the Mount of Olives, which is the hillside where the garden was located, outside of Jerusalem. From the Mount of Olives, Jesus had a great view of Jerusalem and the Temple to the west. Bethlehem was to the south. The Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley were on the east. Bethany was located on the Mount of Olives where Jesus often visited Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Luke 21 tells about the final week before Jesus’ death on a...
Read MoreOlive Trees Live a Long Time
Did you know that seven olive trees in Israel have lived over 3,000 years old? Imagine all the changes those trees witnessed in those years! Olive trees, a type of evergreen, can grow over forty feet. That’s taller than a four-story building! The branches can spread twenty feet from the trunk, or forty feet from one side to the other so the tree can be as wide as it is tall. The trunks have a unique gnarled (twisted) pattern. When the tree is young, the bark is green. As the tree ages, the bark turns gray. A mature olive tree can be chopped to the ground and grow back. What an amazing trick! A long time ago, olive oil was prepared by crushing olives in a large wooden or stone bowl called a mortar. Oil presses were also used. “Gethsemane” comes from the...
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If it’s in the Bible, The Pirate Preacher knows the story. The gospel he teaches and preaches is not his own nor is it the opinion and words of theologians and scholars who study Scripture as though God’s word is dead.
Rather, he receives teaching daily by revelation from the living Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Monday nights he leads a “Jesus Study” in Moore Square, Raleigh, NC. Each Sunday you will find him in the park and at the bus station helping others enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised. Our Lord says, “I came that you might have life and that you would have life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10) The Pirate Preacher believes we are to participate in making the fullness of Jesus complete in others.
The Pirate Preacher helped launch Christian Devotions Ministries and is the former CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a Christian book publishing company. He’s also a Writers’ Coach.
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