There is a garden adjacent to the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem. Its name means oil press and it is the place where Jesus experienced such mental pain that blood drops formed with the sweat on His forhead. These were His words to His Father God. They were said three times:
‘Oh my Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.’
The cup is interpreted as the intense suffering and the burden of bearing the sins of everyone who has ever lived.
The second time Jesus said this:
‘Oh My Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’
Jesus then prayed this the third time.
Jesus had told His disciples how He was feeling before He prayed these prayers. This is what He had said:
‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death please stay here and watch.’
Then between these painful prayers he said this to His sleeping disciples:
‘Why couldn’t you watch for one hour with me? Watch and pray so that you are not tempted / so that you enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Matthew 26
Judas soon arrived to kiss Him. A sign to the soldiers that He was the Man to be taken. The painful story continued until He died for you and me.
From an olive press to chives in our garden. This past summer was hot and lying next to the chives was a large round cover that had once been used on a barbecue. It had good dranage so with a bit of soil to hold the small brown seeds of the chives growing next to it, there was soon a lush, hollow stemmed ‘lawn’. The mother plant had been covered with flowers each flower with 10-30 inflorescence each having seed, much more seed than I could count.
These small plants needing 15-20 C to thrive were more than able to fill the lid. They were growing almost on top of each other. I placed some in bundles of wet paper and plastic and put them in a bowl outside the gate for others to pick up and plant and they went!
Now in our own garden they have gone through the winter and I spot them here and there as I am weeding in places I randomly chose to place them. They are good at repelling insects and their round hollow stems are in contrast to the flat, strap-like leaves of garlic chives.
The chives standing straight and still growing for summer 2026. The mother plant.
The new ones I planted here and there.
Heaven will be a good place. Our garden home with Jesus who died for us. He has carried our sins at the cross. He asks us to believe and sin no more.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂