The Cup

Matthew 20:20-22 AMPC

Then the mother of Zebedee's children came up to Him with her sons and, kneeling, worshiped Him and asked a favour of Him. [21] And He asked her, What do you wish? She answered Him, Give orders that these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left in Your kingdom. [22] But Jesus replied, You do not realise what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised? They answered, We are able.

What is this "cup" that Jesus is speaking about?

He refers to it again when praying in Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:39 AMPC

And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.

We may not realise it, but the Lord is angry at every wrong that He sees happening on the Earth - and nothing is hidden from His all-seeing eyes.

Often His hand is stayed and we do not see that the cup of His righteous anger is being filled up.

Psalm 75:8 AMPC

For in the Hand of the Lord there is a cup of His wrath, and the wine foams and is red, well mixed; and He pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth must drain it and drink its dregs.

This was the cup that Jesus was facing in the garden. He knew that He had come to drink God's Cup of Wrath against sin, so that we wouldn't have to.

The Rape Gang Inquiry that Rupert Lowe instigated is ongoing. Victims have been recounting the abuse suffered at the hands of the perpetrators - it is beyond shocking.

That's just an iota of the evil that has been happening during the history of the human race.

Now imagine being faced with God's rightful anger at every single evil - past, present and future. Then we can begin to see why Jesus experienced sorrow and horror enough for Him to sweat drops of blood - there in Gethsemane.

The sweet, innocent Saviour tasted the anger that I should face, drained my cup, to the dregs - so that I could drink another cup, the cup of Salvation that He poured out in His Blood.

Matthew 26:27-28 AMPC

And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you; [28] For this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

We will all have to choose which to drink. If we refuse the cup of Salvation that Jesus offers, then we will drink of the cup of God's Wrath.

It's our choice.

I know which one I want to drink!

Psalm 116:13 AMPC

I will lift up the cup of Salvation and deliverance and call on the Name of the Lord.