“The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.”

“And behold, in her beak was a freshly plucked olive branch.” – Genesis 8 & 9

I stand in awe and whisper my gratitude for the painted gift above

The rainbow, his beautiful promise that darkness will never overcome

But with head held high, lost in the beauty of the sky, I missed the fullness of his promise rooted deep in the ground on which I pilgrim

The olive tree lowly planted firm in the Gethsemane dirt, carries the promised truth amidst his branches to behold

In the beak of the three, the white dove plucks a delicate twig and quietly journeys it home

High in the painted sky, Holy dances and eddies in the wind, hovering, waiting for me to ready for the gift he cradles

Heaven's fulfilled covenant is grounded in the living olive branch that yearns to be given but must be received to complete his promise of reconciliation

The rooted olive tree holds up my weary hands to cup the pressed fruit's oil that freely pours down his cheek

Exhaling his final breath, Holy releases the baptism of the oil of gladness into the wind and showers the earth with His Peace

Behold! Tetelestai. It is finished.

And the rooted tree of righteousness displays his splendour & the holy wind bows in praise.

The olive branch is first mentioned in Scripture when the dove returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch in its beak (Gen. 8:11). Since that time, the olive branch is known as a symbol of “peace” to the world. The dove, a symbol of His Spirit.

Gethsemane: Positioned at the base of the Mount of Olives, the garden faces the Old City of Jerusalem. The word Gethsemane means ”oil press” and the garden is home to a collection of twenty-three olive trees. 

The Greek word “τετέλεσται” (tetelestai) is used in the Gospel of John as Jesus’ last words (“it is finished”) before He gave up His spirit on the cross. “Tetelestai” comes from the Greek root word of “telew” meaning to bring to an end, finish, or complete.

Isaiah 61:3 “to bestow on them a crown of beauty  instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called trees of righteousness, a planting of the Lord. for the display of his splendor.”