"They went each to his own home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives". (John 8.1 RSV). Here Jesus was "at home" after the strenuous labours of the day. Jesus found rest on Olivet after teaching in the Temple, healing the sick, comforting the sorrowing, bearing with His disciples and meeting the scorn of the "learned ones". The tired limbs, the throbbing brow, the aching heart would preclude all possibility of sleep, but Jesus found rest and refreshment, not in sleep but in quiet and undisturbed communion with His Father.

Centuries earlier, David taking flight from Absalom, mounted the ascent of Olives, weeping as he went, until he reached the summit. David was at his lowest ebb, but it was here that friends came to his help in his trials and problems, and with help for his journey. In our case the trials of this life at work and the multitude of problems which confront those responsible for the home, all tend to weary and depress us; but when we can leave the "city" and ascend the hill of Olives, "where God is worshipped", there we can release the mind from its burdens and there find rest and peace, The weariness and heartache melt away, and we regain our poise and sense of proportion. Here too we find "asses for the King’s household", aids for our heavenward journey; bread and fruit for the soul, and wine to drink when we faint in the desert.

There are parts of this hill which may be used to portray differing experiences in drawing near to God. From Jerusalem, figurative of all that is worldly, the pathway dips steeply down to the Kidron valley, then upwards to the garden of Gethsemane. From thence it continues to the summit, then down again to Bethany, the scene of some of the happiest and most blessed of our Lord’s earthly experiences, but also of the saddest. Can we visualize the scene as the golden sun is setting over the great city? The humble home, kept clean and bright by the practical and industrious Martha, is filled with the sound of happy voices. Left behind are the labours of the day, and Jesus, with Lazarus by his side and Mary at his feet, converses quietly with them and his disciples. Martha, mindful of the natural needs, enters with refreshments and for a while a fitful silence reigns. Supper over, the murmur of voices in pleasant conversation rises again and later the sound of voices blended in the sweet harmony of psalms and spiritual songs is heard. But it had not always thus. No longer was the sound of happy voices raised in song; the lowly home is now filled with the sound of mourning. Lazarus is in the tomb and Mary and Martha, hope all gone, wait with heavy eyes turned towards the pathway along which their Lord will surely come. With His presence, faith revives a little and hope stirs again. There is silence as the Lord weeps over that sad scene. Then, by the mighty power of God, sorrow is turned to holy joy.

As Passover drew nearer Jesus increasingly sought the sanctuary of Olivet and Bethany. It was on Olivet that He wept in sorrow over Jerusalem and foretold the destruction of the temple. It was here too that He uttered that wonderful discourse concerning His return and the end of the Age.

To Jerusalem went Jesus for the Last Supper and afterward He was drawn again to Olivet. There, in the garden of Gethsemane, He reached the crisis of His earthly life but with the ministry of an angel of the Lord His strength and courage returned. How He must have longed to go further over Olivet to that sweet haven of rest at Bethany; but to the cruel city He returned, there to suffer and be condemned to a criminal’s death. But the power that raised Lazarus from the dead brought Him forth from the grave, the first born of a New Creation. A little later came the glorious culmination of the greatest chapter in the world’s history; Jesus left this Earth to enter the Heavenly courts again. Not from the city, nor from the Temple did He ascend, but from Olivet.

The record does not tell us which way He went that day – to Bethany – the summit but He took leave of His brethren from that hill which had witnessed his greatest joys, His deepest sorrows and closest communion with his Father. If we would follow Jesus into the heavenly realm we must follow him daily up the ascent of Olivet, and continue on to Bethany; then when we come to our time in Gethsemane we shall pass the crisis safely, and wing our way from Olivet to dwell with him through eternity. Maybe many days must pass before that day comes; but as we draw near to God we shall ascend the heights and plumb the depths. Paul must have spent many happy hours at "Bethany"; it was he who urged the brethren at Ephesus to "converse with one another in the music of psalms, in hymns, and in songs of the spiritual life." Should we occupy our time thus, there would be less time for unseemly arguments about so-called ‘essentials to salvation’.

Even as Jesus sought the quiet joys of Bethany as an antidote to the restless excitement of the city, so we should find time to relax, rejoice and converse with one another in the music of psalms, hymns, and songs of the spiritual life. We must not be surprised, however, if we find our deepest sorrows at Bethany too. The sharpest pang may come from those who are nearest and among our brethren we may experience the greatest heartbreaks as did our Master before us. Going to Bethany, whether it be to songs or to sighing, we shall find our Master there to share both joys and sorrows; then when our time comes to face the last ordeal, we too may mount the ascent of Olivet weeping, but in Gethsemane we shall find the ministering angel, and gain strength and courage to face the loosing of the silver cord, and in the resurrection morning reach the summit of Olivet whence we shall enter into everlasting joys.