The Pressing of Olive Oil – The Pressing of Jesus

About a year ago I saw an Instagram post by Dave Adamson that brought several analogies to mind and inspired me to do some research and write a post. His post was about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and the parallels of an olive press (“Gethsemane”) and Jesus being pressed with the weight of our sin and his sacrifice.

As we enter the Lent season this week, I’d like to share the analogies that came to mind as something that we all might meditate on during this season. These can be a reminder to us of Jesus being crushed and pressed on our behalf. We can also be reminded in our own times of crushing and pressing that God is able to produce something very good and useful from every last drop of pain and suffering that we endure.

Dave Adamson’s Instagram post that inspired my post/article:

“Here’s something cool about Jesus! We all know that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane … but do you know what else was happening?
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In Biblical times, farmers would put olives in the trough of a giant stone olive press, and then roll the large, heavy circular stone over them. The enormous weight of the stone crushed the olives, allowing the oil inside to pour out through a spout cut into the stone.
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The first pass of the heavy stone produced the most precious, pure drops of olive oil. This oil was extremely expensive and was used to anoint kings. The stone was then rolled over the olives again, producing a second batch of oil that was used to heal the sick. A third pass of the stone produced oil that was used to cook, or to light lampstands.
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In Hebrew, this sort of olive press is called a “gat shemanim” (גת שמנים pronounced “geth-sem-uh-nim”), which we translate in English as “gethsemane”. Sound familiar?
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On the night he was betrayed, Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It was that the weight of his sacrifice caused Jesus to develop Hematohidrosis—a condition where a person under extreme duress literally sweats drops of blood.
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It was in Gethsemane that the first drops of Jesus’ blood appeared, as the weight of our sin pressed down on him. So the next time you use olive oil to cook, remember Jesus’ sacrifice … which started in the Garden of the Olive Press.

“He was crushed because of our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was on him …” — Isaiah 53:5”^[1]

~Dave Adamson, Instagram

3 Pressings of Olives

During my research about the pressing of olives and the uses of each pressing, I found some discrepancies about the uses of oil from the various pressings (i.e. about which of the three pressings produced oil for light and for cooking). However, the analogies and parallels that we can gather from them remain relevant and useful regardless of the order.

Here are the three pressings and their uses:

• First Press – For Holy Use & Anointing Priests & Kings

The oil from the first pressing of olives is the purest form of the oil and was used to consecrate things as holy, used to anoint kings and priests, and used for pure light in holy places (keeping the menorah in the Tabernacle and Temple burning). *See Exodus 30:22-32, Exodus 40:9-15, 1 Samuel 16:1 & 13, 1 Kings 1:39, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 28:41, Exodus 29:7, Leviticus 24:2

• Second Press – For Medicine & Food

Oil from the second pressing was used to make medicine or pharmaceutical ointments for healing and utilized for cooking and food. *See Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34, Mark 6:13, James 5:14, Leviticus 2:5, Exodus 29:2, Ezekiel 16:19, 1 Kings 17 & there are also multiple medical articles about the medicinal uses of olive oil

• Third Press –For Soap & Light

The oil from the third and last pressing was to make soap (lye) and used for light (for lighting lamps for everyday use–we can also see from the first pressing that oil was used for light there as well but for holy purposes),. * See Job 9:30, Jeremiah 2:22, Malachi 3:2, See Matthew 25

The Pressings of Jesus

As I read through the procedures for producing olive oil, immediately multiple analogies started coming to mind. Specifically, I thought of three ways that Jesus was “pressed” or “crushed” three times like the olive pressing process.

The first being that in the Garden of Gethsemane (the garden of the oil press), Jesus was pressed three times in intense prayer. Three separate times he prayed, “Let this cup pass from me”.

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” ” Matthew 26:36-38 (ESV); *See also Mark 14:32-34, Luke 22:39-41, John 18:1

First pressing:

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 (ESV); *See also Mark 14:34-36, Luke 22:42

Second pressing:

“Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”” Matthew 26:42 (ESV); *See also Mark 14:39

Third pressing:

“So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.” Matthew 26:44 (ESV)

Secondly, I read where someone else had commented that Jesus passed by disciples 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane, and they were sleeping (3 passes/pressings—Matthew 26:40-41, Matthew 26:43, Matthew 26:45, Mark 14:37-38, Mark 14:40, Mark 14:40-41).

Lastly, another pressing of Jesus that can be compared would be three separate extractions of blood from Jesus: when he sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he was beaten and flogged, and when he shed blood at his crucifixion. I’ll discuss these in more detail further in the post.

Analogies to the 3 Pressings of Olives

• First Press – Holy Use & Anointing Priests & Kings: Jesus is our High Priest and King and makes us holy.

One use of the first pressing of oil is for consecrating anointing kings & priests. This can point to Jesus as the ultimate King. Scripture points out that he is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is our ultimate Lord and master. He is also called our High Priest in scripture.

The oil from the first pressing is also used to consecrate things as holy, and because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we now can be holy. Scripture also mentions that Jesus has made us a Kingdom of priests, paralleling another use of the oil from the first pressing of olives: to anoint priests.

King & High Priest

“For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” 1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT)

“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 (ESV) *See also Revelation 1:5 & Revelation 19:15-16

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV)

Made Holy, a Kingdom of priests

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” Hebrews 10:19 (ESV)

“So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12 (NLT)

“and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6 (NLT)

• Second Press – Medicine & Food: Jesus is a healer and spiritual food.

The oil from the second pressing of olives is used for medicine, often as a healing ointment. Comparably Jesus is a healer. Scripture tells us that his sacrifice brings us healing. The oil from the second pressing is also used as food. Correspondingly, Jesus gives us sustenance—his words are spiritual food. In fact, he calls himself the “bread of life” and “living water”.

Healing, Bread of Life, & Living Water

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (AMP)

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 (ESV) *See also John 6:48, John 6:51, & Matthew 26:26

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 (NLT)

“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”” John 7:37-38 (NIV)

• Third Press – Soap & Light: Jesus is light and the cleanser of our sins.

The oil from the third pressing of olives is used to make soap and used for lighting lamps for everyday use. We can see both analogies in scripture. Jesus calls himself the light of the world. We now have hope and light because of his death and resurrection. His light guides us and directs us just like a lamp guides a dark path. We are also to take his light and shine it for others to see. Additionally, like soap is a cleanser for our bodies, Jesus is the cleanser of spirits and souls. Jesus’ crushing and pressing cleans us of our sins like soap cleans dirt from our bodies.

Light of the world, Light to our path, Shining his light to others

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV) *See also John 9:5

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.” John 12:36 (ESV)

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

“so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:15 (NLT)

He cleanses our sins

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2 (NIV)

Another analogy—Three extractions of olive oil 🡪 Three extractions of blood

Above I mentioned some examples of Jesus being “pressed” three times like an olive: pressed in intense prayer three times in the Garden of Gethsemane and encountering his disciples sleeping three times in the Garden of Gethsemane. Another “pressing” or crushing analogy that comes to mind is when Jesus’ blood was spilled, or extracted in a sense, similar to olive oil being extracted. This also happened on three separate occasions…three pressings.

Furthermore, with each of these pressings of his blood, there were also associations and analogies of what that blood does for us, much like the uses of the olive oil from each of the pressings. *You’ll see some repetition from the scriptures above used below as well.

• First Press – In the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sweat drops of blood.

Under intense stress and pressure in prayer, the pressure of the sins of mankind being placed upon him, and no doubt in intense mental contemplation, scripture tells us that Jesus sweat drops of blood. Hematohidrosis is a very rare condition in which an individual sweats blood. It may occur in an individual who is suffering from extreme levels of stress, frequently caused by fear and intense mental contemplation.^[2]

As mentioned above, one use of the first pressing of oil is for consecrating things as holy. Similarly, Jesus’ blood makes us holy. Also as stated above, the Bible says that Jesus has made us a Kingdom of priests. This is another resemblance since the first pressing of oil is used to anoint priests.

“And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44 (ESV)

“So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12 (NLT)

“and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6 (NLT)

• Second Press – When Jesus was beaten and flogged.

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was taken to be beaten and flogged by a lead-tipped whip, which would have torn the flesh from his body. Several translations of the Bible mention that he received “stripes”. These would have been the stripes cut into his back from the lead-tipped whip. The Bible mentions healing being associated with these wounds or stripes.

Therefore, just as oil from the second pressing of olives is used as medicine for healing, the blood from wounds and stripes Jesus endured from his second pressing, his flogging, has made healing available to us.

“So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.” Matthew 27:26 (NLT); *See also Mark 15:15, Luke 23:16, John 19:1

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (AMP)

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

• Third Press – When Jesus died and his blood was poured out on the cross.

Finally, Jesus third pressing and extraction of blood occurred at his crucifixion. He poured blood out on the cross. Not only did he bleed as he hung there, but in order to verify his death a soldier speared him in the side which made blood and water flow from his body.

Just as the oil from the third and final pressing of olives is used to make soap for cleansing, the final extraction of Jesus’ blood cleanses us of our sins.

“But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” John 19:33-34 (NLT); * See also Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

”and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:20 (NLT)

“for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” Matthew 26:28 (NLT)

“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 9:14 (NLT)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

“and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.” Revelation 1:5 (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to Meditate on the Pressing of Jesus:

• First, as you enter the Lent season this week, consider meditating on the pressing of Jesus and the parallels to the uses of olive oil from each of the three pressings. Let these be a reminder to us of Jesus being crushed and pressed on our behalf.

  • • Remember your King and High Priest and remember that he has made you holy.
    • Don’t forget that Jesus bled for your healing. Pray and ask for healing if you need it (physical AND emotional).
    • Remember that he will sustain you. His words can bring you life. He is your bread of life and living water.
    • When things seem dark, remember that he is your light. He will bring light to your darkness. He will light your path and guide you. Then, take that light and shine it to others.
    • Know that in him your sins are forgiven and that you are clean. Do not stay in condemnation. Don’t minimize his sacrifice for you.

• Next, you might consider leaving out of bottle of olive oil during this time as a visual reminder.

• Finally, as you encounter your own times of crushing and pressing, remind yourself that God is able to produce something very good and useful from every last drop of pain and suffering that you endure.

*See this post for some scriptures and encouragement when you are feeling crushed.

What did you find helpful in these analogies of the pressing of olive oil and the pressing of Jesus? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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1. Adamson, Dave. “The Garden of Gethsemane.” Instagram, 22 Jan. 2023, www.instagram.com/p/Cntx1IKvl1j/?hl=en. ↑
2. Biswas, Saugato, et al. “A Curious Case of Sweating Blood.” Indian Journal of Dermatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827523/#:~:text=Hematohidrosis%20is%20a%20very%20rare,%2C%20psychogenic%2C%20and%20unknown%20causes. ↑