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Mar 31, 2023 18:30pm

Draw Close to the Mountain

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“See that house over there?” This was always the start of an adventure through Memphis.

Anytime we visited this area with our dad, it became a tour of the past.

“I welded those bars on that house and the railing too.”

My grandfather owned an iron company and my dad worked in it for several years. His claim to fame was that they built the gates of Graceland, but he was also a “big fish” storyteller too, so who really knows.

Memphis was his old stomping grounds. He graduated from Messick High School in 1969. He lived just a few streets over, or maybe it was on the same block, as one of the band members of Survivor. As he walked home from school, he could hear them practicing in the garage. No doubt they were writing Eye of the Tiger. He played football in Junior High with Jerry “the King” Lawler when the coach made them take ballet to help with their footwork. Or so he said.

No matter how big the stories were or how much they changed over the years, Memphis was his town. He felt pride about the city and always had fond memories of it. And we loved hearing about it. He was a die-hard Tigers and Volunteers fan, the only man wearing orange to our friend’s house as we watched the Razorbacks play. Dad had lots of big memories in that town and he wanted to share those with us.

“And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives,” (Mark 11:1a)

This morning, we are covering one verse, and only part of it. I want to focus in on the Mount of Olives. What was this place and what was the significance? One thing to note is that anytime we see a mountain being spoken of in scripture, it’s used to symbolize being closer or drawing nearer to God, many times in prayer.

The Mount of Olives is a mountain range west of the Jordan River. There were 5 significant things that happened with Jesus on this Mountain, one of which is still to come. But I must also mention that there was a very significant moment that occurred here with David as well.

David, fleeing from King Saul, went to the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30). Saul was trying to kill David because he was afraid David would take over his throne. He was already more popular and greater in battle than Saul, and his pride and jealousy were overtaking him.

Jesus Himself had special ties to this mountain. The first event occurs here in this passage of scripture. As we will see as we continue in Mark 11, Jesus sends His disciples to go get a donkey. This is the animal He chooses to ride on in His triumphal entry to the city. This marks the week that Jesus would be crucified. He didn’t ride in on a great white horse, but instead, a lowly donkey. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

The next instance we see on the Mt. of Olives is what is referred to as the Olivet Discourse. This is a series of teachings where Jesus discusses when the end will come, what will happen to people and how to be prepared (Matthew 24-25).

The night before going to the cross, Jesus gets alone to pray to the Father. Knowing what was to come, He begs that this cup pass from Him, but surrenders to the will of the Father. This is done in the Garden of Gethsemane, which is at the base of the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane means olive press, and it was in this place that Jesus was so pressed with what was to happen on the cross, that He sweat drops of blood.

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we see Jesus ascend to Heaven. This too happened on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12).

And finally, scripture points to the place where Jesus will return. You guessed it, the Mount of Olives. But this time, it won’t be as a King of Peace riding on a donkey. Instead, Jesus returns as the triumphant King! And the very place where David wept as he ran from his enemy is the place where Jesus shall return with victory! (Zechariah 14:4)

We know these things to be true, not because of the account of just one man, but the account of many. Prophecy foretold of these events and Jesus fulfilled them and will continue to do so. The Mount of Olives is a physical place with significance, not just to the people of Jesus’ day, but to you and I.

It’s time that we draw closer to that mountain. We, too, must go to it and fall on our knees in prayer to our Heavenly Father. The time is near for the return of Christ. May we be found at the foot of this mountain humbled in prayer.