Lessons from the Desert :The Weight of Sin (Olive Oil Press)

This month at Pasture Living, I'm sharing what I learned during my Israel trip and why I think this series is very relevant to healthy living. I believe being physically healthy is important, but being mentally, psychologically, and spiritually healthy is also extremely important for a fulfilling and joyful life. If you missed any of this series, click here.

Advent Day 5

The Weight of Sin

Millstone

Weight presses

Passage Reading: Isaiah 53:5

The pictures above are an ancient olive oil presses and millstones. Olive oil was used for many different things including cooking, nutrition, preserving food, anointing, rituals, cosmetics, and oil lamps. This olive oil press is underground as its production needs a cool place to make sure the oil doesn't spoil. The millstone is used to crush the olives to extract the oil to what we call extra virgin olive oil. Then they would use the weight presses to make subsequent pressings to make virgin olive oil, light olive oil, etc.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5

Just like how olives are pressed down and hard to produce olive oil, so have our sins been pressed down onto Jesus, and what came out is this amazing healing oil of the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is freely given to us by God’s grace, but it is not cheap. It costed the life of Jesus. When we embrace this truth, we will not take this precious life lightly and use our time wisely and purposefully.