As Jesus prayed on the Mount of Olive, He asked that the cup of suffering be removed. What is this cup? It is the cup of God’s wrath. Our sin separates and brings God’s anger. In Scripture, drinking the cup of wrath represents experiencing God’s judgment for our wrongdoing.
Psalm 75: 7 It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. 8 For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs. [1]
Jesus knew the suffering ahead. It was the price He would pay for the world’s sins, which would require His blood and separation from the Father. We can’t imagine what Jesus had to suffer. He was expressing His feelings as a human being. Yet, He would do what the Father required.
Luke 22: 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”[2]
Strengthened by an Angel
Jesus had asked His closest disciples to pray with Him, but they were too sleepy to stay awake. This was a huge task, and the Father knew what Jesus needed to endure. Luke 22: 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. [3] “There is a rare physical phenomenon known as hematidrosis, in which, under great emotional stress, the tiny blood vessels rupture in the sweat glands and produce a mixture of blood and sweat.” [4]
The Exchange of Cups
Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath, so we don’t have to. If we reject Christ, we must drink the cup on judgment day. But even before praying, Jesus had made provision for an exchange of cups. Luke 2: 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. [5] Because Jesus was willing to drink the cup of God’s wrath, we now receive the cup of salvation.
Paul explained more about this cup of the new covenant. 1 Corinthians 11: 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”[6]
We can receive forgiveness when we trust Jesus’ blood paid the price for our sins. Our relationship with God is restored, and we have the promise of everlasting life with Him. We receive the gift of salvation instead of the judgment and death we deserve. What a loving Savior we have! To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-real-battle
[1-3,5,6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 269). Victor Books.