Jesus Drank the Cup for You and Me

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Luke 22:42

In last Friday’s reflection, I examined what Jesus means when he asks for his Father to take away the cup from him. We saw that the cup represented, not just physical suffering, but also the very judgment of God that Jesus was soon to bear for the world. Jesus is indeed “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). At it says in Hebrews, “once for all time, [Christ] has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice” (9:26). The Apostle Paul explains this mystery: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Of course, Jesus ended up drinking the cup of judgment, bearing the sin of the world. This is bedrock theological truth. But it is also truth that can make all the difference in your life and in mine. To put it simply, Jesus drank your cup. Jesus drank my cup. Jesus took upon himself the righteous judgment for your sin and my sin. What could be more amazing and wonderful than this?

Thus, the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane demands more than an objective, safe, dispassionate response. We miss the point if we stand back and say, “Jesus died for the sin of the world. That’s the truth.” In fact, Jesus died for your sin and mine. Jesus entered into the Hell of separation from the Father so we would never have to do so. This means that you can have an intimate, genuine, lasting relationship with God, one that is not prevented or destroyed because of your sin. It means you can come before God’s throne of grace, boldly sharing all that you are, knowing in advance that you will receive mercy and find grace to help in your time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Not only is this a truth to be believed and a mystery about which to be astonished. It is also a truth that has the potential to change the way you live today.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What difference might it make in your life today if you lived in light of the truth that Jesus drank your cup of judgment? How would you live if you really believed you were set free from sin and death?

PRAYER: How can I ever thank you, Lord Jesus, for drinking the cup of judgment...my cup of judgment? You chose to receive the righteous judgment for the sin of the world, including me. You took my sin upon yourself so that I might be forgiven.

Help me to live in the reality of this forgiveness. Help me to experience the freedom I have with the Father because of what you have done for me. Help me to give away your love and grace to others.

All praise, honor, and glory be to you, dear Lord. Amen.