Drinking the Cup 1-11-09
There is a great misunderstanding of the story of the Crucifixion, both in the world and among Christians. Many see Jesus as an unfortunate victim of circumstance. Some see his death on the cross as a historical peculiarity, such as the execution of King Charles II of England or the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
One of the things about this story that is greatly misunderstood is the statement by Jesus in the Garden:
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:39-44 NIV)
I have heard too many sermons and lessons in my life on how Jesus was having a lapse in faith, or was second-guessing God, or other such views. This is complete nonsense, of course; such a lapse in faith would be totally out of character for Jesus. Jesus (as perfectly demonstrated in the preceding chapters of Luke) had just finished engineering the event as it had been planned. So it makes no sense for Jesus to say this, unless he was actually saying something different than the victim theory would allow.
Understanding this statement by Jesus requires studying the Old Testament, particularly the book of Isaiah. This book reveals so much about the Christ and yet few people in the Church actually read it. The fifty-first chapter especially deals with this dilemma that Jesus is dealing with.
Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes men stagger. Of all the sons she bore there was none to guide her; of all the sons she reared there was none to take her by the hand. These double calamities have come upon you— who can comfort you?— ruin and destruction, famine and sword— who can console you? Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the LORD and the rebuke of your God. Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine. This is what your Sovereign LORD says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again. (Isaiah 51:17-23 NIV)
God in his nature is loving, kind, and merciful; but he is also fair, just, and honest. So the question then is how to be merciful while also preserving his integrity in dealing with the accumulated wrath on account of everyone’s sins. The answer is for Jesus to drink the cup of wrath for us! By his statement, he is testifying that what he is doing is what the Father wants and is also pointing all of us to the passage in Isaiah 51; this shows us that Jesus is indeed the one true messiah!
So the next time that you think about Jesus’ death on the cross, remember that not only did he die to atone for our sins; but he also rose from the dead and ascended to God. He as promised that we shall too.
-Charles Peterson