![Our recent visit to Gethsemane caused me to ponder on the Savior’s sacrifice for each of us. You may already know that in Hebrew, “geth” means “press” and “shemen” means “oil.” Gethsemane is literally the place of the oil press. This description became very real to me as I had the opportunity to witness and operate an ancient olive press at the BYU Jerusalem Center. During the Savior’s life, oil was made by first rolling a large stone on top of olives. The mashed olives then were stressed with heavy beams to produce a fine oil. To ensure that every possible drop of oil was expressed, large stones were then placed on top of the beams, crushing the remains. Consider the symbolism of this process as you consider Jesus Christ’s experience in Gethsemane, where “blood [came] from every pore” (Mosiah 3:7) as the Savior suffered in incomprehensible ways as He knelt in intense prayer and offered Himself a ransom for our sins. Out of perfect love, He gave all that we might receive all. His supernal sacrifice reminds us of the universal debt of gratitude we owe Christ for His divine gift.](https://i0.wp.com/mormonlifehacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/343077883_731651765370978_3462596941905750882_n.jpeg?fit=820%2C559&ssl=1)
Our recent visit to Gethsemane caused me to ponder on the Savior’s sacrifice for each of us. You may already know that in Hebrew, “geth” means “press” and “shemen” means “oil.” Gethsemane is literally the place of the oil press.
This description became very real to me as I had the opportunity to witness and operate an ancient olive press at the BYU Jerusalem Center.
During the Savior’s life, oil was made by first rolling a large stone on top of olives. The mashed olives then were stressed with heavy beams to produce a fine oil. To ensure that every possible drop of oil was expressed, large stones were then placed on top of the beams, crushing the remains.
Consider the symbolism of this process as you consider Jesus Christ’s experience in Gethsemane, where “blood [came] from every pore” (Mosiah 3:7) as the Savior suffered in incomprehensible ways as He knelt in intense prayer and offered Himself a ransom for our sins.
Out of perfect love, He gave all that we might receive all. His supernal sacrifice reminds us of the universal debt of gratitude we owe Christ for His divine gift.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I bear witness of Him. He is my Lord and Savior. He has overcome sin and death. Through Him, each of us can do the same.
Feelings of gratitude for the Savior overwhelmed me today as we considered His sacrifice in two special locations. We visited the Garden Tomb—an ancient tomb comparable to the location where the body of Christ would have been laid following His crucifixion.
We also visited the area considered by some to be the Garden of Gethsemane. As we walked among centuries-old olive trees, we listened to scripture verses describing the Savior’s solemn sacrifice on our behalf in the garden and on the cross.
Jesus Christ’s agonizing experience in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross deserve our complete respect and total reverence. Similarly, the wonderful events that occurred on the third day following His crucifixion deserve to occupy a place of awe and eternal gratitude within our hearts and minds.
As a disciple of Christ, I am blessed to proclaim my testimony that He lives!
The words of the hymn “He Is Risen” come to mind:
He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days’ prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory.
Guest Author
Kurt Francom
dyejo
