In the Olive Grove

The Mount of Olives is mentioned by name only twice in the Old Testament, and once it is alluded to as the “mountain east of Jerusalem.”

When David abandons Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom, he travels east to the Mount of Olives, and then into the wilderness (2 Samuel 15). Ezekiel sees a vision of the glory of Yahweh abandoning the temple; it pauses on the Mount of Olives (11:23) before moving on to join the people of Judah in their exile. Finally, in his climactic vision, Zechariah sees the Lord standing on the Mount of Olives (14:4), which splits it so that there is a ways of escape from the besieged city of Jerusalem.

The three scenes are linked. David is the glory of Israel, and his departure is similar to the glory-cloud’s abandonment of the temple. Ezekiel’s vision is about the Lord leading His people from a corrupted city and temple into exile, as is the vision of Zechariah. We could extend the parallels, had we but world enough and time.

And all three scenes are linked to Jesus’ on the Mount of Olives during the Passion Week. He is a Davidic king following David’s via dolorosa, as hostile powers take over the city. He goes to Olives after condemning the temple as a den of brigands; He is the incarnate glory. He stands (and probably dies) on the mount of Olives to make a way of escape for His people from the old order that has grown old; the rending of the mountain is like the rending of the veil of the temple.

The mount of Olives links with the olive-wood (or “oil-wood”) inner chamber of the temple. He is the king greater than David, who sets up His throne alongside His Father’s throne. Jesus abandons Jerusalem’s temple, but sets up His own Most Holy Place on the east side of the Kidron Valley.

The throne of the Lord is no longer in the temple, no longer in the city center. It has been set up outside the gates, where Jesus goes bearing the shame that will bring glory. The throne of the Lord has become a cross, set up in the olive grove.