The Cup

When the temple guard in the Garden of Gethsemane arrested Jesus, Peter came to His defense. Remember Jesus’ rebuking words in Matthew 26 when Peter drew the sword and cut off the ear of the temple guard?

“‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”’ –Matthew 26:53

Jesus had the power to defend Himself, but He let Himself be captured; he even healed the guard’s ear.

To me, that is an incredible teaching point—having power but not using it for selfish gain or self-protection. In the garden, Jesus let God accomplish His eternal purposes that were far greater and grander than His personal safety or victory. He was steadfast in His resolve to trust the Father.

Christ’s focus was on the Father’s will and agenda, not on personal safety or personal desires. His passion was not success but pleasing the Father. He chose to drink the cup given to Him.

The cup of God’s will is always more important than our safety, desires, and goals.

Jesus was willing to drink the cup God gave Him because He had you and me written on His heart. In this cup full of suffering, humility, and death, He saw my name and yours. And by trusting the Father and drinking His cup, a time was set when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

Jesus received all that was due to His name by the Father’s will and plan, not His own.

What about the cup God has given you and me? Are we willing to drink from it and worship no matter how difficult or painful it might be? Will we thank Him for the cup He’s given us?

My friends, when we drink from the cup God gives us, we become the Church that shines light into darkness, bringing forth the resurrection power of Christ’s presence.

This world is not fair. It is broken and filled with broken people. By saying, “Yes, Lord,” to our cup in the midst of unjust suffering, we allow God to go to work in our lives in ways that surpass human comprehension.

In this choice, we are putting our confidence in our Lord’s agenda for our highest good. We are trusting His way of pure love that is preparing us to rule in His coming Kingdom. And His cup for us will accomplish exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Wow, what a Savior! Today, let’s thank Jesus for drinking His cup so that we can know Him. May we be willing to drink from whatever cup will honor or glorify Him.

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