The Oil of Anointing from the Olive Tree

The Oil of Anointing from the Olive Tree.

“I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s mercy, in the Lord’s unfailing love.” (Psalm 52:8).

The Olive Tree, the Olive, and Olive Oil. Is there anything in nature more biblical than the olive tree, the olive, and its olive oil? There are well over 200 mentions in Scripture about the olive tree, the olive and olive oil. That’s not a big surprise when considering the importance of the olive tree to Israel’s food supply, its economy, its history, its daily life. The trees themselves were hardwood for long-lasting furniture, construction material, and beautifully grained wood for ornaments and decoration. Apart from it being an important part of their daily diet, olives were responsible for fuel to light the lamps, an ingredient for cooking, medicine and health aids, anointing oil for kings, prophets, priests and the sacrificial system, facial ointment, and many other practical uses.

The Olive Tree. It is an ancient tree that can grow to a height of twenty feet, a slow-growing tree that takes years of careful labor to reach fruitfulness. It remains one of the earth’s longest-living trees. Scientists have gone to the Mount of Olives in the Holy Land and carbon-tested three of the olive trees there. It was firmly established that all three trees were at least 1,000 years old. There is one particular tree there that is estimated to be about 2,000 years old. All three of those trees were found to be originally planted from the same parent stump, springing up from the roots from the old, dead stump of one tree. This is common for the olive tree. When a tree reaches old age, hundreds of years, and it has reached its maximum production, the farmers will usually cut down the tree to its stump. Soon, miraculously, the roots of that stump develop new shoots, and the tree continues to grow until it begins to produce olives again years later. As many as five new trees are known to spring up from one old stump. They have found one tree there that is reportedly over 2,000 years old. The messianic prophecy of Isaiah 11:1 then begins to make sense. “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Jesus is that holy Shoot coming from the old stump. Nature provides such an amazing picture of this, doesn’t it?

Olive Tree as Symbol. The prominence of the olive tree in the Holy Land led to it being a meaningful symbol for many different biblical ideas:

(1.) Reconciliation and Peace. The ancient olive tree was the first tree to bud after the Flood, and signified a renewal of the relationship between God, man and nature. “After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.” (Genesis 8:11).

(2.) Healthy Children in a Happy Home. A satisfying and fulfilling family life is the one of the blessings of following God’s ways. “Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear Him.” (Psalm 128:3-4).

(3.) Beauty and Splendor. The wood of the olive tree is known for its amazing grain and striking appearance. And the tree itself is a fascinating picture when it gets older, with its twisting and turning trunk and the unexpected knots throughout. It is an evergreen with smooth bark, and its leaf has a beautiful shade of silvery green. “I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars of Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees.” (Hosea 14:5-6).

(4.) Joy and Gladness. When someone rubbed olive oil onto their face, it began to look like the face was shining, radiant with happiness. Thus olive oil came to symbolize the look on the face after using the oil. “You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” (Psalm 45:7).

(5.) The Person who is Flourishing, Growing and Fruitful. Because the olive orchard was a common scene of healthy growth and fruitfulness, it became a symbol for the person who was likewise. This passage highlights that this person is flourishing because he is planted in the house of God where he can grow roots in God’s love and worship Him to his heart’s content. “I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s mercy.”  (Psalm 52:8).

(6.) The Nation of Israel. Unfortunately, this prophecy of Jeremiah speaking the word of the Lord contains His voice of judgment because of their stubborn persistence in idolatry. “I, the Lord of hosts, Yahweh of Heaven’s Armies, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, arousing my anger by burning incense to Baal.” (Jeremiah 11:17).

 (7.) The Jews and the Gentiles. Paul is inspired in Romans 11:17-24 to provide for us a picture of God’s arrangement regarding the Chosen People of both the Old and New Covenants. The cultivated olive tree represents Israel, and the wild olive tree represents the Gentiles. The farmer tending the cultivated tree enables it to bear fruit by pruning and nurturing it carefully. He trims and discards the branches that are unproductive, and he keeps the roots of the tree intact. Out of tree’s holy root will come the Chosen One. The Gentiles have weak roots, because they are wild and uncultivated. The branches of this wild olive tree were thus incapable of bearing fruit. But then the farmer, out of sheer mercy, took an unproductive branch from the wild tree and grafted it onto the cultivated tree. This grafting would succeed in nourishing the wild branch, giving it new life and enabling it to bear fruit. This is a picture of how Gentile believers can now share in Israel’s blessings through its Messiah, who is the root of the cultivated olive tree. Paul says that the Gentile believers do not replace Israel, that they were grafted onto the Jews through Jesus. Israel remains God’s cultivated tree, His Chosen People even now, and through the Messiah is the source of salvation for all Gentile believers. Christians are branches growing from the Jewish tree, from the root of Christ. Both Israel and the Christian Church are a part of one cultivated olive tree and are given life through Jesus Messiah, the Anointed One.

The Olive. God has created the fruit of the olive tree to be a tasty and versatile source of food and a supply of life-giving nutrition. Olives are rich in vitamin A and E, antioxidants, copper, calcium and iron. Olives can strengthen the bones, boost the immune system, reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce chronic inflammation, and even regulate blood sugar levels. More recently, olives are being used to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other brain-related diseases such as dementia. No wonder olives have been such a popular food since ancient days even before the Flood.

Olive Oil. The oil from the olive has been a blessing to humanity since Day One. It has always been seen as a valuable part of society because it is so versatile and has so many uses. Creator God has used olive oil for so many important biblical purposes: an effective healing agent; a soothing medicinal ointment and cleanser; an ingredient in food and in cooking; a health supplement; in perfumes and fragrances; a fuel for lighting lamps; to soothe and refresh weathered, dry skin after too much time outside in the sun; for skin care and cosmetics; to rub on battle shields to make them slippery, shiny, more effective; to use for embalming and with spices in burial practices. And in God’s eyes it had supreme importance in being used in sacred ceremonies as God’s special anointing oil for priests, prophets and kings, and for dedicating special furniture for the Tabernacle and Temple. In Deuteronomy 11:14, Moses noted three “blessings of the land:” grain, wine, and olive oil. Olive oil is made by a couple of different methods. It could be produced by bruising the olives with mortar and pestle and then extracting the juicy oil. Or one can use a huge stone press, a large roller used to crush the olives to a pulp, and then after removing the impurities, one can collect the oil for use. Isn’t it poignant that the word “gethsemane,” the garden in the Mount of Olives that saw so many momentous events in the life of Jesus, actually means “olive press!” There He is in the Garden of Gethsemane, being pressed, like an olive in a gigantic stone press, and His life will soon be pressed out.

Olive Oil as a Biblical Symbol: Olive oil represented abundance, prosperity, and blessing because owning it in large amounts was considered a luxury; the oil of joy and gladness because of its many benefits and because one’s face became radiant and shiny when oil was rubbed onto the skin; a symbol for death because of its use in burial practices; a sign of gracious hospitality that respects visitors because of its soothing  and rejuvenating effects on the skin and the delicious fragrances a visitor would enjoy; a sign to use when celebrating God’s restoration and favor, and intentionally not used during a time of mourning. Perhaps most importantly, oil was a sacred symbol of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture from beginning to end, in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

The Holy Spirit. The eternal life-giving Third Person of the Holy Trinity; the intimate bond of divine love and truth shared by God the Father and God the Son; the dynamic power of God offered to every human being on earth; the supernatural Presence in the Community of God who is personal without being material; the invisible creative force with divine intelligence who truly knows the mind of God from the inside; the Spirit of God who thus has all knowledge and is present everywhere in the universe; the sacred energy streaming forth from the Father and the Son, pouring love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), producing virtuous qualities in us (Galatians 5:22-23), and gradually transforming each believer into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Olive Oil as a Symbol of the Holy Spirit: Olive oil was used throughout Scripture as a symbol for the Spirit of God, for the presence of the Holy Spirit being poured onto those who sought God’s blessing, approval, empowerment and transformation. The Holy Spirit doesn’t partially come to the person being blessed, not in bits and pieces. The Holy Spirit isn’t dribbled, drop by drop, but instead is poured till overflowing. Whenever we see the Holy Spirit being applied, He is poured like the holy oil in Scripture:

• “...till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high.” (Isaiah 32:15);
• “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” (Joel 3:1, Acts 2:17);
• “Exalted to the right hand of God He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33);
• “They were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45);
• “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5);
• “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6).

Olive Oil and the Holy Spirit. In the prophecy of Zechariah in 4:1-6, Zechariah was given a symbolic vision of a golden lampstand, otherwise called a candlestick or a menorah, the official source of light in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. This lampstand always symbolizes the nation of Israel. This lampstand in the vision is miraculously fueled by the two olive trees on each side of it that continuously pour out its olive oil into the bowl that stores the oil, on top of the lampstand. This ongoing source of oil assures that the lampstand will have a continuous supply of oil so that it will be lit constantly. The light of the lampstand will never go out because of its supply of olive oil. Israel will be once again restored and will achieve its high calling of being a light to the world, illumination for all the nations, as it is empowered by the oil of the Holy Spirit. The Lord made this abundantly clear by including in this vision these memorable words, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6). This vision in Zechariah brings to mind the powerful vision of John in Revelation 1, where we see Jesus “tending the lampstands,” which means He was providing the fuel, He was making sure the lampstands were lit. In other words, Jesus was the olive tree providing the Holy Spirit so those seven churches could thrive as lights in their world!

“And Jesus came out, and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him there… Jesus had often retired to the Mount of Olives with His disciples.” (Luke 22:39; John 18:2).

The Mount of Olives. On the eastern border of Jerusalem, about two miles away from the city, is a small range of mountains known for all the olive groves flanking the hillsides of the mountains. This is the sacred place known as the Mount of Olives, or Olivet. It is a Sabbath’s walk from Jerusalem, and it has a rich biblical history. Because of its proximity to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples would often go there for fellowship, solitude, prayer, and a place to discuss important matters in peace. There was a special place within the confines of the Mount of Olives that ended up as the site of many momentous events in the life of Jesus, known historically as the Garden of Gethsemane.

The sacred history of the Mount of Olives is brought to light with a simple survey of what has happened there in Scripture:

(1.) A thousand years before Christ, David escaped to the Mount of Olives while fleeing from the insurrection led by his son Absolom. It is reported in 2 Samuel 15 that the weeping David entered the Mount of Olives barefooted, broken, distraught by the betrayal of his son;

(2.) Solomon proved fickle with his promises to be faithful to God, and he wickedly erected a pagan worship site on the Mount of Olives to please one of his foreign wives. This of course caused irrevocable damage to his relationship with the Lord (1 Kings 11:6-9);

(3.) According to rabbinic tradition based on a prophecy found in Ezekiel 11:23, the Mount of Olives was the holy site from which the coming Messiah would make Himself known to Israel;

(4.) The Mount of Olives is the place the Messiah will return one day to usher in the messianic era and the restoration of Israel, according to the prophecy of Zechariah 14:4;

(5.) Fulfilling the prophecy and rabbinic expectations, Jesus did indeed begin His journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday from the Mount of Olives. (Matt. 21:1). He began His journey into the city from the crest of one of the three peaks of the Mount, approximately a mile and a half from Jerusalem. The crest of the hill where He began His trek reached about 100 feet above Jerusalem. With the open road approaching the city from the hilltop, city dwellers could have literally seen Jesus riding on a donkey and coming to them from miles away. That’s why there were so many people waiting for Him as He entered the city;

(6.) The fifth and final recorded discourse of Jesus occurred on the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:3; Mark 13:3). It has historically been called the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24 and 25 and Mark 13. The Lord wanted to share with the disciples the signs of His return and the signs of the End of the Age. This teaching is also referred to as “the little Apocalypse.”  Immediately following the Olivet Discourse, the chief priests and elders consulted on how they could successfully arrest Jesus and put Him to death. (Matt. 26:3-4).

(7.) At the foot of the Mount of Olives is a private space that was ideal for solitude and prayer… the Garden of Gethsemane. It is in this garden where Jesus fell on His face, prostate, flat on the ground, where He showed Himself most human in His horrific agony. (Matt. 26). He continued pleading with His Father to relieve Him from His apparent destiny of torture and shame and pain. Three times He requested to be relieved of the cup of suffering. Each of those times, Jesus repeated, “Not my will, Abba Father, but your will be done.” During these agonizing prayers the sweat of anxiety dripped from his head like drops of blood, and a comforting angel came to minister to Him. Once the prayers were finished, a mob arrived to take Him into custody. Judas His betrayer was in the lead and took the mob right to Jesus after a friendly kiss on the cheek. Scholars estimate that anywhere from 200-600 men were in this group approaching Jesus, all of them with weapons. Mostly they comprised of Roman soldiers, with a few of the Temple priests and Temple police. Jesus knew who they were looking for, and so when they got close to him Jesus blurted out “I AM He!”  There was so much spiritual power and authority in His declaration, and with the wind of the Holy Spirit at His back, all the men, every single one, fell backward, flat on the ground. Jesus’ claim to be divine, the Great I AM, further scandalized the religious authorities of course, but they remained convinced of Jesus’ guilt even after His divine demonstration of strength. The disciples were alarmed at this spectacle, and Peter responded by drawing his dagger and cutting off the ear of one of the priest’s servants at the scene. Jesus wanted none of that violence, and after telling Peter to put away the dagger, He healed the ear of the servant. Jesus was then arrested, bound, and led away by the soldiers. He was dragged from Gethsemane to the home of the retired chief priest, Annas. From there, Jesus would have to endure six hostile hearings, leading to the final decision, execution by crucifixion.

(8.) There was one more highly significant event on the Mount of Olives… The Ascension! Acts 1:9-12 describes it well. “And when He had said this to the disciples, even as they were looking right at Jesus, He was lifted into the sky, and a cloud received Him and carried Him away, out of their sight… Then the disciples went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, only a Sabbath’s journey from the city…” 

The biblical site of the Mount of Olives carries a lot of spiritual weight. We are filled with awe as we look at all the events that occurred there. This won’t be the last we see of the Mount of Olives, though. We will witness Jesus in His triumphant return as the world’s Messiah, the divine Anointed One, when He will plant both feet on the Mount of Olives, ushering in the Kingdom of God.