The Cup

Matthew 26:39 - "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

It was the eve of our Lord's crucifixion. He has just entered the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. The Gospel narrative tells us that Jesus was so burdened that He fell on His face to the ground in prayer to the Father. Luke tells us that He prayed until His sweat was as great drops of blood. What was it that could bring the glorious Son of God so low? I believe the answer is found in (v.39) as He makes mention of "the cup" He was to drink. Three times Jesus prayed to the Father "let this cup pass from me." Three times He affirmed "not my will but Thine be done." We may be able to imagine in our minds the scene of Gethsemane but no human can fully comprehend the struggles Jesus faced or the cup from which He was to drink.

What was in that cup?

1. Suffering for Sin

The physical sufferings of the cross pale in comparison to the spiritual sufferings of the cross. (2Corinthians 5:21) states, "For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (Isaiah 53:6) says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." The lovely Lord Jesus took upon Himself the accumulated guilt of the entire human race paying the penalty for our sin. He died that we might live in Him, through Him and for Him.

2. Separation from the Father

In dark Gethsemane as Jesus prayed that this cup might pass from Him, it was not the death from which He shrank but the prospect of being separated from His Father. Jesus had been one with the Father from all eternity but during the hours of darkness on the cross God forsook His Son pouring out His undiluted wrath on our sin (Matthew 27:46).

"It was alone the Saviour prayed, in dark Gethsemane
Alone He drained the bitter cup and suffered there for me.
Alone, alone he bore it all alone,
He gave Himself to save His own,
He suffered, bled, and died, alone, alone."
- Anonymous

He was forsaken that you and I might never be forsaken!

3. Salvation for Sinners

The Psalmist writes, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:13). The cross work of Christ is the sole means of our redemption. Jesus drank the cup of our sufferings that we might drink from the cup of His salvation! Dear friend, if you have never drank from that cup "O, taste and see that the Lord is good."