Shalom and greetings from Nazareth!
Today I’m standing among so many olive trees, and they are preaching a sermon all by themselves. These trees have been here for generations—some of them hundreds of years old—and every time I see them, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness that never changes.
The Bible talks about the olive tree again and again. Psalm 52 says:
“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.”
What a picture of stability and life! The olive tree stays green all year long, no matter the season. And that’s what God wants for us too—that we stay rooted in Him, trusting in His mercy no matter what storms may come.
From the very beginning, God used the olive tree as a sign of His promises. After the flood, when everything was destroyed, the dove came back to Noah with an olive branch in its beak. That was the first sign of peace, a new beginning, a second chance. Isn’t that powerful? In the same way, Jesus brings us peace and new life today.
The olive tree gives us oil, and in Israel, that oil was so important. It wasn’t just for cooking—it was used to anoint kings, priests, and prophets. It was a sign that God had chosen them and filled them with His Spirit. And then, when we come to the Garden of Gethsemane—which literally means “the oil press”—we see the greatest moment of surrender in history. Jesus Himself was pressed, carrying the weight of our sin, sweating drops of blood, giving Himself completely so that you and I could be redeemed.
Even the way the oil is made speaks of Him.
The first pressing always went to the house of the Lord—it was the purest and the best. The second pressing was used for daily life at home. And the third pressing gave oil for lamps, so there would be light in the darkness. Doesn’t that remind you of Jesus? He gave His very best, poured out everything He had, so that we could have life, and so that His light could shine in us even in the darkest of nights.
And Paul tells us in Romans that we are grafted into this very tree. Think about that—we were once outsiders, but through Jesus, we have been made part of God’s family. We’re not just guests at the table, we’re children in the house! Every time I walk among these olive trees, I thank God that I am grafted in, that I belong to His family through the promises given to Abraham. And so do you.
What amazes me most is how strong these trees are.
They can go through fire, storms, floods—even be cut down—and still, new shoots will grow again from the roots. The olive tree is a survivor, and it always comes back to life. What a picture of God’s people! We may go through hardships, we may feel pressed on every side, but by His Spirit, we rise again. His mercy keeps us standing, and His promises keep us alive.
My friends, let us live like green olive trees in the house of our God. Let’s stay rooted in His Word, let’s keep trusting in His mercy, and let’s shine His light in a world that is so often dark and hopeless.
From Nazareth, I bless you in the name of Jesus. Thank you for being part of this journey with us, for standing with us, and for helping us share His love here in Israel. Together, we are like an olive grove planted by the Lord—fruitful, steadfast, and filled with His Spirit.