Olive Press
Jeremiah 11.16 states “The LORD called your Name (shmech), Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of good fruit.” The name olive (zayit) is derived from this passage as a name for Messiah [Psalms 132.17]; yet it can also refer to Israel because it has a feminine ending. God commanded Israel to bring this same oil for lighting the lampstand (Menorah) so it could burn continuously; [Exodus 27.20] therefore, ‘pure olive oil’ must have unique quality, hence not just oil but “pure oil.”
Olive oil resembles Y’shua Messiah in another way. Like olives that serve their purpose only after being duly processed, so Messiah will only accomplish His purpose after being grounded, then pressed, and crushed between two stones. In the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent part of His final night, has particular significance because it was not only an olive grove, but also the location where olives were pressed into oil. Gethsemane derives from the words Geth and Seman – both meaning oil.
The crushing of olives into oil involves three sequential steps:
- harvesting, crushing into pulp, and pressing
Generally, there are three pressings, each one producing a lower quality oil.
- first pressing produces oil for anointing and the Temple service.
- second pressing produces oil used for food and medicine.
- third pressing produces oil for heating and lighting.
Jesus Chrit’s three prayers to the Father symbolize these three pressings. The passion involved in these prayers produced a pathological condition known as hematidrosis [Luke 22.44], in which capillaries burst under intense stress, to ooze or sweat blood.
Olive oil has a multiplicity of uses:
- Anointing (the name Christ signifies the Anointed)
- Cleansing
- Food
- Heating and lighting (Jesus is the Light of the World, John 8.12)
The three successive crushing of olives into oil represents the awesome cost of our salvation. Christ’s intense physical and mental torture qualified Him to be Our High Priest and Mediator, who, for our sakes, accomplishes His Father’s will. As Believers in Messiah, we are to signify this light that shines in this apostate civilization, anti-biblical, anti-God civilization. Not to blend in because we are no longer in harmony with it. Because of Messiah’s anointing, dressing us in His mantle, the cleansing that He has brought us to and our daily food of His word; we must increasingly shine against the flow of darkness and increasingly stand out in contrast to the world. The candle that shines in the darkness can be seen miles away. Let us not fear the darkness or be intimidated by it, but shine more brightly against the darkness.
Artistry for Hanukkah
Hashem gives us gifts so that we can be a light to the world to draw those outside the will of God to His heart and those that are believers to be in awe of His beauty.
Look at the Tree: written by Kyra Wells
Look at the Tree
How it’s adorned in
Ruby, Auburn, and Orche
Colored Leaves
Clearly displaying the
Handiwork of Adonai our King
Yes, look at the tree,
In all its adornment
It sheds those leaves &
humbly submits to
The weight of what
winter brings
Look at the tree,
It waits and waits and waits
‘til spring to be redressed,
renewed, and refreshed
Then unselfishly becomes
a place of shade and rest
When summer’s heat
has gotten the best
Look, My king Yeshua, He is the Tree
He is the Oak, The Willow,
The Pine, and The Olive Tree
And Me? I’m just the mustard seed
walking in the steps of He who
is and will always be
He took off his glory knowing
all men would fall
Man’s heart grew cold
But still He called
Wounded for our transgressions
Bruised for our iniquities
Bearing the weight of our sin
yet death was not the end
He sprung to life again
Now we turn to the sun (Son)
The only One who can make us one.
Fictional Literature: written by Mariah Peters
I found Him! Or should I say He found me. The scripture says that we did not choose Him but He chose us and yet while we were still sinners Christ died for us. I’m a young believer and I never thought I would experience anything like what I’ve experienced. I heard about this Light, I’ve seen this Light in others, and I know His Name is Yeshua. But me? I never thought I would see the Radiant One appear before me. Let me take you back to how it all began. I was going about doing my normal routine. Typically, being caught up with work and school; sooner than later, I fell asleep. As I slept, I dreamed of it being utter darkness and void around me. I could feel that other things were there but I knew not what they were. But then, at a distance, a Light shone and as it shone it began to revive and give life to everything that was around me. The Light spoke thunderously and said, “Let there be Light!” Upon this, everything shook, and I saw animals running in the fields, I heard birds singing and I even saw little children playing together peacefully. Awaking from my sleep, I was startled that I didn’t know what this dream meant. I knew that there was a light and I knew that it had overcome the darkness. But what did this really mean? The next day, I was still going about doing my normal. But this day, something tremendous happened. I saw the Light and it wasn’t just because the windows were open exposing the sun. I really saw the Light, I mean the Light actually encircled me; it was the Radiant One Himself. This Light nearly blinded me, all I could do was bow. As this Light beamed on me, my garments began to change, my wounds began to heal, my mind began to still. My heart within me fluttered and just as the animals in the dream, I felt new; there was Life. This was a supernatural experience and I knew I couldn’t keep it to myself. I went to go tell everyone I saw, some didn’t listen; they didn’t believe me but every time there was denial, the Light within me revived me, giving me the strength and courage to keep sharing. Everywhere I went this light began to shine in me inwardly and outwardly. So much so that people at work and school said that something was different. All I could say was, His Name is Yeshua. And now, everywhere I go, I can’t help but speak of the Light. The Light cannot and will not be suppressed. This Light is what all believers have received. It’s the Savior Yeshua Himself who has brought Life to all who trust in Him. Ephesians 4:8-12a says “For you used to be darkness; but now united with the Lord, you are Light. Live like children of Light, for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness, and truth- try to determine what will please the Lord. Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. But everything exposed to the Light is revealed clearly for what it is, since anything revealed is a light-.” So this is our charge as believers. We have all encountered the Light; Yeshua Himself. He has worked mightily and miraculously in each of our lives and now it’s up to us to let His Light Shine through us for it cannot and will not be suppressed.
Prophetic Paintings: drawn by Ravenne Coffer-Johnson
Each of the following paintings were extrapolated from a Seer’s vision during Shabbat.
Butterfly of Heavenly Origin
Fire Eyes
The Feet of Y’shua in His Temple
History of Hanukkah
In the book of Matthew (10.22) states that Y ’shua entered the Temple on the day of Dedication (Hanukkah), which was held on the 25 of Kislev, to commemorate the re -consecration of the Temple after it was polluted by the Syrians. Hanukkah is not a required appointed time (Lev 23) of Hashem, even so Hanukkah was birth out of an expression of thanksgiving, honor and praise for His great provision which gave witness to His power and might. Much of the history is recorded from the Apocrypha. It tells of the great victory led by the Mattityahu Hasmonea & sons (Maccabees). Their motto was “Who is Like You Lord among the gods” taken from Exodus 5.11 The celebration of Hanukkah that we enjoy now was sur rounded by death, slaughter, persecution and dark times. May we celebrate bringing light in our time; strive to be faithful.
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