Two years ago, along with some colleagues, I had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land. Among the many sites, we stopped at Nazareth village—a place that brings to life what daily existence in Galilee would have been like during the time of Jesus. As we walked through the village, we witnessed villagers living and working with the same clothing, pottery, tools, and methods that Mary and Jesus would have used.
Guided by a knowledgeable staff member, we were led through scenes of daily life in Galilee. We saw a shepherd carefully tending his sheep, a potter artfully shaping the wet clay on his treadle wheel, and a vineyard producing fruit, just as it did in Jesus’ day. But what stood out to me most, leaving an indelible mark on my heart, was not the opportunity we were offered to seal the experience with an authentic biblical meal, but the olive press—a simple yet profound reminder of life in those days.
Lessons From the Olive Press
In this small room we saw the large mill used to crush the olives during the first phase of making olive oil. We learned that if we had visited during the harvest season, we might have witnessed a donkey walking in circles, pulling the heavy millstone to crush the olives.
After the olives are crushed, they are gathered and moved to the oil press, where their juice is extracted. The guide explained that the process involved three pressings, adding more weight each time to ensure all the oil was drawn out.
Jesus was pressed so that we could be blessed.
The first pressing yields the purest oil, which, in biblical times, was reserved for sacred purposes—lighting temple lamps, anointing priests and kings, and meal offerings.
The second pressing produced oil with medicinal virtues, used for healing and treating wounds, and alleviating pain.
The third pressing gaveoil used for making soap, cleansing, and everyday purposes.
Even the pulp left after the final pressing was not wasted. It was often used for common oil lamps or making soap. Every part of the olive served a purpose.
Gethsemane: The Oil Press of the Soul
In the Garden of Gethsemane, a place whose very name means “oil press” (gath, meaning pressure; and shemānim, meaning oil), Jesus experienced the weight of crushing sorrow, much like olives pressed to release their precious oil.
The three pressings of the olives in the ancient process can be seen as a powerful spiritual parallel to the three times Jesus prayed in the garden, experiencing the crushing weight of humanity’s sin, sorrow, and suffering, and the three times He returned to find His disciples asleep.
The First Prayer: The Weight of Sin
The first pressing produced the purest oil, set apart for the holiest purposes—fuel for the temple lamps and anointing oil. In the same way, Jesus, our high priest, carried the burden of our sins. As Isaiah 53:5, 6 declares: “He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”*
Jesus’ first prayer reflects the agony of bearing the weight of humanity’s sin, as He cried, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matt. 26:38).
The Second Prayer: The Weight of Healing
The second pressing produced medicinal oil, symbolizing healing and restoration. In His second prayer Jesus bore the weight of our brokenness and pain. Isaiah 53:5 reminds us: “By his wounds we are healed.”
There is dual meaning here—to heal and to save. In the second crushing Jesus took upon Himself the weight of our brokenness, not only to save us from sin but also to heal us, restoring us to wholeness. Jesus’ perseverance in prayer showed His determination to bear every wound, every hurt, and every broken piece of humanity.
The Third Prayer: The Weight of Cleansing
The third and final pressing produced oil used for cleansing and soapmaking. Likewise, we can look to Christ’s sacrifice for our spiritual cleansing. As David prayed in Psalm 51:7: “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Jesus’ third prayer in Gethsemane echoes this, as He accepted the ultimate weight of the cross, ensuring that we could be made clean and pure before God through His ultimate sacrifice.
Nothing Wasted in God’s Plan
Just as no part of the olive was wasted in the ancient pressing process, no part of Jesus’ suffering was in vain. Every tear, every drop of blood, and every moment of anguish served a divine purpose. Through His suffering He provided for our redemption, healing, and cleansing.
His crushing brought forth life-giving oil that lights our spiritual lamps, heals our deepest wounds, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
The Blessing From the Crushing
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus faced the crushing weight of sin, sorrow, and separation from the Father. Yet, through His obedience and surrender, He turned the crushing into an eternal blessing for humanity.
The apostle Paul captures this beautifully in 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Jesus was pressed so that we could be blessed. His crushing produced the oil of salvation, healing, and cleansing for all who believe.
May we never forget the lesson of Gethsemane—that the most valuable oil flows only through the crushing. The olive is good, but the oil is better. The Savior was crushed, but the blessing He produced is eternal.
He was pressed so that we can be blessed. By His pressing, we receive His blessings. Amen!
* Biblical quotations are from the New International Version.
