And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. (Luke 22:39 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Attack!
The last supper was over, and Jesus did not hide. He knew what was coming. And He went to face it. The Mount of Olives was not just a random place for Jesus to go. It was a familiar, symbolic, and necessary place.
The Mount of Olives was a place Jesus frequently prayed. In fact, Luke tells us that He often went there. As Jesus moves ahead towards His death, He chooses a familiar place, where He did a familiar activity. He prayed. This is no hidden closet of prayer… this is Jesus praying in the face of His enemies.
The Mount of Olives was a symbolic place. Here, David experienced failure with his son, Absalom. (II Samuel 15) Here, Solomon worshiped idols. (I Kings 11) Here, Zechariah (Zechariah 14:) foretold that the Messiah would stand. The Mount of Olives was a gospely place… and Jesus went there knowing that the gospel path required His presence there.
The Mount of Olives was a necessary place. Judas, perhaps knowing Jesus’ usual presence there, was bringing the Jewish leaders to arrest Him. While we despair, thinking of Judas’s decision and action, Jesus knew that it was necessary.
The Mount of Olives was the path to our salvation.
And Jesus did not avoid that path, sneak along the path, or hide along the way.
He knew what was ahead, and heroically jumped into the face of His combined enemies.
Because He knew His Father was with Him. He knew that He acted in obedience. He knew that He was doing, living, acting in the gospel.
We do not need to hide, either. We can speak loudly of our need for our Savior… and His salvation! We can act boldly in obedience, even when it causes us embarrassment, opposition, and problems. Jesus showed us how to attack.
Fear not, then attack like Jesus.