{"id":48068,"date":"2022-07-28T09:14:19","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T06:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=48068"},"modified":"2025-05-29T01:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T22:40:33","slug":"and-all-the-people-would-rise-early-and-go-to-the-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2022\/07\/28\/and-all-the-people-would-rise-early-and-go-to-the-temple\/","title":{"rendered":"And All the People Would Rise Early and Go to the Temple"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Let us study the Word of God together.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Luke 21:37\u201338 (ESV)<\/strong>
“And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus, during His final days in Jerusalem, chose to spend the nights not in someone\u2019s home, but sleeping on the Mount of Olives?<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t because He lacked a place to stay or had no one to welcome Him. On the contrary, Jesus had many followers\u2014some of them wealthy and influential\u2014who would have gladly hosted Him.<\/p>\n

For example, Joseph of Arimathea<\/strong> was a rich man and one of Jesus’ secret disciples. After Jesus\u2019 crucifixion, he boldly approached Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body, and offered his own new tomb for the burial.<\/p>\n

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Matthew 27:57\u201358 (NIV)<\/strong>
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus\u2019 body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Another example is the homeowner who provided the upper room for Jesus and His disciples to celebrate the Passover. According to Scripture, this was a well-furnished room in a multi-story house\u2014clearly belonging to someone of means.<\/p>\n

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Mark 14:13\u201315 (ESV)<\/strong>
“And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, “The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.'”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So, the question remains: Why did Jesus choose to sleep outdoors on the Mount of Olives instead of staying with His followers in Jerusalem?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Scriptures and context suggest two primary reasons:<\/p>\n

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1. To Pray in Solitude<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus was a man of prayer. Prayer wasn\u2019t an occasional activity for Him\u2014it was central to His earthly ministry. He often withdrew from the crowds to spend time in intimate communion with the Father. The Mount of Olives, a quiet and secluded place just east of Jerusalem, provided the ideal environment for this.<\/p>\n

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Luke 22:39 (NIV)<\/strong>
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He preferred a place free from domestic distractions\u2014no hosting duties, no interruptions, no noise. He understood that focused prayer demands a still heart and a quiet setting. This serves as a powerful lesson for us: when we pray, we must also be intentional about our environment. The quality of our surroundings can influence the depth of our communion with God.<\/p>\n

Even in Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount, He wrestled in prayer the night before His arrest (Luke 22:44). His choice of that location was not random\u2014it was purposeful, habitual, and spiritual.<\/p>\n

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2. To Be Early in the Temple<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The second reason Jesus stayed on the Mount of Olives was so He could be early in the temple<\/strong>. He had a divine mission to teach the people every day, and He wanted to be the first one there to fulfill that responsibility faithfully. Staying in people\u2019s homes\u2014though hospitable\u2014often involved delays due to domestic routines and preparations.<\/p>\n

Consider the time He visited Mary and Martha:<\/p>\n

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Luke 10:38\u201340 (NIV)<\/strong>
“Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don\u2019t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jesus understood that such distractions, while well-meaning, could hinder the urgency of the mission. When He stayed on the Mount of Olives, it allowed Him to simply wake up, perhaps wash, and walk a short distance to the temple\u2014ready to teach. The Mount of Olives is only a few hundred meters from the Temple Mount, making it a strategic place to rest and rise early.<\/p>\n

As a result, He became a model of spiritual diligence<\/strong>. The people saw His discipline and were inspired by it. Scripture says:<\/p>\n

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Luke 21:38 (ESV)<\/strong>
“And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

His commitment drew others. They began waking up earlier and earlier so they wouldn\u2019t miss His teaching. He didn\u2019t just tell them what to do\u2014He lived it before them.<\/p>\n

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Spiritual Lessons for Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Just like in Jesus’ day, the Lord still “rises early”\u2014so to speak\u2014to meet with His people in His house. Those who love Him, those who belong to Him truly, also rise early to seek Him. Spiritual hunger always shows itself in action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But today, many believers are being spiritually crippled by two great hindrances: sleep<\/strong> and indifference<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Oversleeping and apathy are among the top reasons people miss worship services or arrive late. These two enemies dull our spirits and rob us of divine encounters. Scripture warns us about the dangers of spiritual slumber:<\/p>\n

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Mark 13:35\u201337 (ESV)<\/strong>
“Therefore stay awake\u2014for you do not know when the master of the house will come\u2026 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Also,<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Luke 22:46 (NIV)<\/strong>
“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There is no prayer that can remove laziness or sleepiness. The only remedy is decision and discipline<\/strong>. When Jesus found Peter, James, and John sleeping during a critical moment of prayer, He didn\u2019t rebuke a demon\u2014He simply told them to wake up and pray (Matthew 26:40-41).<\/p>\n

So you, too, must make a deliberate choice: rise early<\/strong>, go to the house of God, seek His face, and be spiritually alert.<\/p>\n

If your church is far, plan ahead. Stay near the church the night before if needed. Attend a night vigil and sleep nearby if possible. But whatever it takes, be in God\u2019s house early, ready to worship and receive His Word.<\/p>\n

Arriving late because of sleep, or showing up with no hunger for God, is displeasing to the Lord. In fact, on such a day, it might be better to stay home and rest\u2014because you may not receive anything at all.<\/p>\n

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Final Exhortation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Reject the spirit of slumber. Reject spiritual laziness.<\/strong>
Wake up early. Go to church. Show the Lord that you honor His Word and His presence.<\/p>\n

Those who seek Him early will surely find Him.<\/p>\n

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Proverbs 8:17 (ESV)<\/strong>
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Maranatha! The Lord is coming soon. Let Him find you awake, active, and seeking Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

May the Lord bless us all.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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