Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

Gethsemane means “olive press.”
A place where the fruit of the tree is crushed and squeezed
and the unbearable pressure releases the oil inside.
And as the will of the Father
met the will of the Son,
the unbearable pressure
crushing and squeezing him,
the thorns of our wasteland digging ever deeper,
the sweat of our curse pooling on his skin,
he made his choice and cried,
“Not my will, but yours be done.”

And the oil of the Spirit flowed freely.

Dear Reader,

We launched the First Things 2023 Year-End Campaign to keep articles like the one you just read free of charge to everyone.

Measured in dollars and cents, this doesn't make sense. But consider who is able to read First Things: pastors and priests, college students and professors, young professionals and families. Last year, we had more than three million unique readers on firstthings.com.

Informing and inspiring these people is why First Things doesn't only think in terms of dollars and cents. And it's why we urgently need your year-end support.

Will you give today?

Make My Gift