“Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.” (Luke 21:37-38)
The Mount of Olives was a familiar place for Jesus to go for meditation and prayer. Each day Jesus spent in the Temple teaching about the Kingdom of God but went to the Mount of Olives to get re-energized by the Father and Spirit for the next day. It was a time of refreshment from the day past and a time of preparation. If Jesus slept at his retreat on the mount, we do not know. If He did it would have been a sleep with a peace about His mission ahead.
Jesus teaches us that at any time in life we can retreat to be with our God and find peace. Our days are filled with work, confusion and stress and we need the time with our Creator to decompress. We need the time to prepare for the next day with its uncertainties. As Jesus was strengthened for the next day’s mission, so are we. We, too, enter the new day living for Him in word and deed because of His presence in our lives.
Heavenly Father, like Your Son, we need Your presence, His and the Spirit with us every moment of life. As the world drains us of Your influence at times, we need to find time to be refreshed by You through Your Word and Prayer. Renew our spirit with Yours for peace and action in the days ahead.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
