Continuation of Two Cups of God Study - I know this study is hard but it is essential for us to understand how God sees sin and how dangerous it is for us.

Jesus Drinks the Cup of God’s Wrath

But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." (Matthew 20:22 NKJV)

            We think of God’s Cup as bringing power and authority.  Jesus tells us this is not true.  The Cup of God’s Wrath carries with it the self-destruction of sin gone mad set free by our will.  Our very thirst for power shows the danger of drinking from the Cup of God’s Wrath. 

            In our foolishness we think since God is all powerful He wouldn’t demand of us any terrible thing.  Doesn’t having power mean we do not have to do those terrible things?  We want God’s power so we will be lifted up above the terror and weakness of being human.

            But God sees power differently.  Power carries with it immense responsibility as well as authority.  To have the ultimate power means having the ultimate responsibility.  As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples He taught us that leadership flows from the bottom up.  Maybe that is why Jesus is called the true foundation, the chief cornerstone?

            Because of that ultimate responsibility Jesus had to take the ultimate trial upon Him and drink from the Cup of God’s Wrath.  He was the only One who could do it because He was the only holy and sinless being who could become the sacrificial Lamb of God.   Because of who Jesus was He also was the only One who would.

            The same is true with Baptism.  We have degenerated Baptism into a sort of step into club membership.  Get the water and get the eternal life.  But to Jesus Baptism carries with it a responsibility to carry the burden for others, and to offer ourselves for others. 

            Our Baptism calls us to serve others so they too will fall under the grace of Jesus Christ and no longer have to drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath themselves!

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39 NKJV)

            Sometimes we miss an important part of the Crucifixion.  It was not enough that Jesus died for us, He had to be WILLING to die.  No nail could hold God to the cross.  No army could have held Him there!  Only His love for the Father and for us could have held Jesus to the cross.

            Without love there will not be obedience.  Without obedience there never would have been a Crucifixion and we would still be in our sin!

            Will our love for God call us to sacrifice and to death for God and for others?  Will it allow us to take up our Cup which Christ has offered us?