A place of trauma
After eating a special meal together, they went with their leader to a mountainous area outside the city. There was something different about him tonight. He’d been unusually solemn at dinner, telling them frightening things. He would be going away soon, where they couldn’t follow him. One of them would betray him. Another would disown him. They would all desert him.
When they reached a garden where they often gathered, he took his three closest friends apart from the others and asked them to watch and pray with him. He was troubled. They were worried. He seemed to need their support. Had that ever happened before? They weren’t sure how to respond.
They were exhausted from the stress and anxiety and confusion of the last few hours, even though their leader had made every attempt to reassure them that everything would work out for the best. If that was true, why was he struggling so much with his own emotions? They were shocked by his weakness. He’d always been so strong and calm anytime they were feeling overwhelmed.
When he walked away from them to pray more privately, they were able to let their guard down, to relax a bit. As a result, they fell asleep. Three times. He woke them up three times. He finally told them to get up and go with him. They were ashamed, keenly aware that they’d failed him.
And then they heard the crowd approaching. Their companion, who’d left them at the end of the dinner, led some soldiers and officials up to their leader and kissed him to identify him so the authorities could arrest him.
One of his followers attempted to strike up a fight, but his leader stopped him and actually healed the injury that he’d caused. When it all looked hopeless, when their beloved leader was bound and taken off to be tried, his frightened and bewildered followers all fled. (Matthew 26:20-56, Mark 14:17-50, Luke 22:21-54, John 13:21-18:12)
It was a traumatic night and a traumatic scene. A great injustice was done, triggered by an act of betrayal. The group as a whole behaved badly, unable to support their leader in his most trying time, saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things, and running away for fear of being carried off with him. If they were like me, the memory of the emotions and failures of that night would remain intense long after the events had occurred. Healing, forgetting, moving on would be difficult, if not impossible.
It turned out that their leader, Jesus, was right, as usual. Everything did work out for the best. Way better than anything they had imagined. He was crucified, suffering a painful and shameful death, but even His crucifixion was God’s plan, God’s timing. It was a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The way to make peace between God and men.
On the third day He rose from the dead. Through the Holy Spirit He could now be with them, in them, each one of them, for the rest of their lives. He could provide strength and peace and hope like they’d never known before.
Memories of the same place
The disciples knew their relationship with Jesus was restored, but did some of the shame from the night of His betrayal still haunt them? Did any sight of the Mount of Olives stir it up again? According to a map in my 1985 NIV Bible, a road passed through the Mount of Olives between Jerusalem and Bethany. They probably traveled that road at least a few times between the resurrection and the ascension. What kind of memories did that journey bring back?
This was where they’d been standing when Jesus sent two of them to get the donkey that He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11). Memories of His triumphal entry.
This was where they’d asked Jesus for more information on His overcoming evil at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3-51). Memories of the prophecy of His future triumph.
This is where they’d often left the crowds behind for a bit of time alone with Jesus (John 18:2). Various memories, probably including prayer and teaching and maybe even laughter.
This is where they stayed every night during the last week of His life (Luke 21:37). Powerful memories of time spent with a loved one during His final days on earth.
But up against all the positive memories stood the shame and trauma of that one evening.
Redeeming the place
This is also where Jesus met with His disciples for the last time before rising into heaven. This is where He promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would give them power to witness to others throughout the world. This is where they watched the Messiah physically ascend into heaven. This is where two angels promised that He’d return in the same way. (Acts 1:6-12)
By Jesus’ own action, the Mount of Olives was redeemed from a place of shame and sorrow and injustice to one of promise and glory and power. It’s never named again in the New Testament.
But it’s mentioned a couple of times in the Old Testament. This is where Jesus will stand when He returns (Zechariah 14:4).
God redeemed a place of trauma. He didn’t do it for the sake of the dirt and the stones and the trees, but for the sake of those who had suffered, and watched His Son suffer, in that very place.
Jesus intentionally led them back there in His own timing. He brought them as a group. Since they’d gone through the trauma together, the healing would be richer and deeper if they were together when they faced the emotions that the Mount of Olives triggered. Redeeming the place was somehow tied in with redeeming them.
God redeems us by His grace, through our faith, when we confess our sins and believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:9). He redeems our souls, giving us eternal life with Him. Such a gift is grand and glorious and awe-inspiring beyond our comprehension. But He doesn’t stop there.
One day He will redeem our mortal bodies, transforming them into glorious bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Even now, He’s redeeming our minds and emotions. He heals our hurts, grows the fruit of the Spirit within us, and transforms our thoughts.
Sometimes that means going back to a painful physical or mental place, as the disciples returned to the Mount of Olives. Sometimes Jesus Himself will lead me there in His perfect timing.
It might hurt. I might hesitate. But when I go, I know that He will be there with me. Sometimes He provides me with the support of friends who are returning to that same spot for the same reason. And in the end, what started as a place of failure and trauma will be redeemed by God into a place of hope.
