Take just a moment to reflect on the following passages.
Matthew 26:36-46 36 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.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 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.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Have you ever considered what "the cup" is that Jesus spoke about in the previous passage? Was Jesus having second thoughts about dying? Is He praying to be delivered from the cross? Is he thinking about the mocking and humiliation of the trail ahead?
It was none of these things. Jesus had taught them in Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." He knew the suffering and the cross that were coming. John 18:4 says "Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
John records in chapter 12 verse 27 this prayer of Jesus. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
Jesus knew what was coming so what does this "cup" represent if not the suffering?
Revelation 4:10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Throughout scripture the cup represents God's righteous and just anger and wrath toward sin. Our sin. Jesus knew he was about to take the full wrath of God on Himself for our sin. He drank the cup that was meant for you and me. Even though His spirit was willing his flesh was weak (v41). He would willingly do the Father's will.
Luke 12:4-5 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Take time this week to think about the great news that Jesus drank the cup of God's wrath that was meant for you. God takes our sin seriously. So seriously that the just result of sin is death. How have you responded to the fact that Jesus willingly paid for your sin? Have you forgotten? Have you ignored it? Have you thought that being a good person or attending church has been good enough to erase your sin?
Trust that Jesus' sacrifice is your only hope for life, true joy and real hope. Confess your sin. Repent. Live in freedom. Be transformed!!
Take a moment or two this week to watch the following videos and reflect.
We'll see you Sunday!
