After hearing a few of the significances of olives, it is the only tattoo I have ever considered actually getting.
Jesus descended into Jerusalem from the mount of olives. Jesus ascending into heaven from the mount of olives.
Jesus is called The Messiah, which means “The Anointed One.” The priests were anointed with oil before they entered into the temple. Jesus’ blood anointed us as he ultimately cleansed us and took away our sin.
“Gethsemane” means “a place for pressing oil.”
When the meaning of everything is laid out like that, it’s breathtaking.
And what is oil used for? Lamps. Lighting the world.
The perfect olive was Jesus. He was crushed. Three times, to the point of blood.
“…with my holy oil I have anointed him.”
Psalm 89:20
The olive is valuable, but the oil is only produced through the crushing.
So what does all of this beautiful symbolism mean for me? It means that Jesus is who he says he is. He is worthy of glory and praise. My life should be one of praise and glorifying Him because he is more beautiful than I can imagine.
It means that I have participated in that crushing, but the oil still comes.
