Jesus Christ,
I think upon your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times, I’ve wondered at your gift of life
And I’m in that place once again
As believers, we are called to think upon and remember our Lord Jesus Christ, who “hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2). The beauty of the Remembrance Service is that we, too, are called to offer a sweet smelling sacrifice to God in the form of worship (Hebrews 13:15). We see a picture of this in the pattern of the Old Testament tabernacle; the instructions given for making the holy anointing oil and incense used in the service of the tabernacle symbolize the type of worship we ought to bring to the Lord’s Table (Exodus 30:22-37).
Fragrant spices were selected and mixed together with olive oil. In some cases, the spices would vary in aroma, weight, and cost; however, all were combined and used as a holy ointment acceptable to God for His purposes. In the same way, when we gather to the Lord’s Table, each of us brings something slightly different to offer, yet, our Lord is so gracious to accept our worship as long as it is meant only for Him and His glory, and offered in spirit and in truth (Exodus 30:32).
Psalm 133 likens this holy ointment of distinct spices blended together to a beautiful picture of congregational unity (Psalm 133:1-2). Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “olive press” is “Gethsemane”, the Garden at the Mount of Olives, where Jesus endured such great agony in anticipation of the Cross. The unity we enjoy is because Christ broke down the dividing wall of hostility to reconcile both Jew and Gentile unto God in one body by the cross (Ephesians 2:14-16).
In fact, the olive tree has great significance among the children of Israel; it is a symbolic reminder of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and covenant of salvation. Recall the Psalmist David’s words, “But I am like an olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever” (Psalm 52:8). The Book of Romans speaks of the grafting in of branches from a “wild olive tree”, representing the Gentiles, to the “good olive tree”, representing saved Jews, and how that this is contrary to nature (Romans 11:17, 24a); it does not make sense to graft branches of a bad tree to a good tree for it has nothing of value to contribute. Similarly, our offerings and acceptance before God is based on the merits of Christ and His finished work on the cross; we are not justified by our own works, “lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).
This mystery of being grafted into the family of God is humbling, yet it does not end there. Though we have nothing of value, in and of ourselves, to offer God (save our brokenness), He places worth within us. In fact, Paul affirms to the Corinthian believers that it is God who makes us “stand firm in Christ…set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) — the same is called elsewhere, “the earnest of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14).
We can be sure our spiritual adoption into God’s family is secure; Jesus Christ, our great Kinsman-Redeemer, promises to preserve us, His “purchased possession”. He paid the price for our inheritance in full, giving us the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:14).
May we always remember that we would have been eternally excluded from God’s treasured family tree if not for Gethsemane – the “olive press” of suffering, which led to Calvary’s tree.
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.