"Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of ?” (Matt 20:22)
“We might think of the word Cup as representing various experiences of life-that everybody has, his or her Cup of mingled joys and sorrows. But Jesus used the word in a different sense. When He was in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt 26:39) And again, the same night He prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Verse 42)
In the matter of His baptism into death, there was no hesitation on our Lord's part. On the contrary, from the very beginning He voluntarily participated in it (Lev 1:3). The “cup”, the ignominious death was the thing that He prayed might pass, if it were possible. 'But this was what He learned was the Father's will for 'Him, and He was content to have it so.
There was nothing in the Law to indicate that our Lord should be executed as a blasphemer of the Divine Law. Yet blasphemy was the charge preferred against Him. The Sanhedrin decided that He was a blasphemer in that He had said, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it again," and also in claiming that He was the Son of God. Apparently, then, the thing which was specially weighing on His mind and from which He would have liked to be relieved was the ignominy and shame of being crucified as a criminal, as a. blasphemer of the Father He loved so well.
Jesus knew that He had come into the 'world to die, and that He must suffer. But this part of His experience (concerning the “cup”) He had not fully understood. Evidently He knew that "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;" for comparatively early in His ministry He had stated this in His conversation with Nicodemus. But as He came down nearer and nearer to the time of His humiliation, His degradation, and realized all that it meant, He felt a great shrinking from it and poured out His heart in the cry, "If it be possible, let this Cup pass from Me!" But immediately-- proving that His affirmation, at the time of His consecration, "Lo I come to do Thy will, O God," was not empty words--He added, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
ARE WE WILLING TO SHARE HIS IGNOMINY?
And so to His disciples our Savior said: Are you able to lay down your lives completely, even though this shall mean to you injustice in the taking away of your lives?
Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of? There will be disgrace and ignominy connected with it all.
Are ye willing to share with me in this, My Cup? They answered: "We are able." They were willing.
This, we see, is the same Cup represented in the Communion Service. The bread represents the body, and the wine the blood of our Lord. The Cup especially represented the shame and ignominy connected with His death, and the disciples said that they were willing to share His Cup--they had no hesitancy. At any cost they would be faithful. They would comply with any conditions He would make. They did not, of course, yet know the, full import (the true significance and implication) in the word baptism or the word Cup, 'These were things all His disciples were feeling after. When Pentecost should come, these things that Jesus had spoken to them would come to their remembrance, as He had foretold. (John 16:4; 13:19) But they were willing and anxious. And that is all that we can be. Jesus guaranteed that, being willing, they should have these experiences', that, continuing willing, continuing to suffer with Him here, they should reign with Him in His Throne.
The courage, the fortitude, of our dear Redeemer in walking the Narrow Way fills us with admiration. How strong and brave was His character! He had no thought of looking back; His whole being was intent upon accomplishing the will of His Father in Heaven-upon sacrificing Himself in the interest of the world. What a noble Example was set before the Apostles!—and of ourselves, GREATNESS IN HUMILITY, VICTORY THROUGH ENTIRE SELF-SURRENDER!” (R5421)
In our next post we would like to expand a bit on this thought of the cup and how it pertains to us.
“We might think of the word Cup as representing various experiences of life-that everybody has, his or her Cup of mingled joys and sorrows. But Jesus used the word in a different sense. When He was in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt 26:39) And again, the same night He prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Verse 42)
In the matter of His baptism into death, there was no hesitation on our Lord's part. On the contrary, from the very beginning He voluntarily participated in it (Lev 1:3). The “cup”, the ignominious death was the thing that He prayed might pass, if it were possible. 'But this was what He learned was the Father's will for 'Him, and He was content to have it so.
There was nothing in the Law to indicate that our Lord should be executed as a blasphemer of the Divine Law. Yet blasphemy was the charge preferred against Him. The Sanhedrin decided that He was a blasphemer in that He had said, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it again," and also in claiming that He was the Son of God. Apparently, then, the thing which was specially weighing on His mind and from which He would have liked to be relieved was the ignominy and shame of being crucified as a criminal, as a. blasphemer of the Father He loved so well.
Jesus knew that He had come into the 'world to die, and that He must suffer. But this part of His experience (concerning the “cup”) He had not fully understood. Evidently He knew that "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;" for comparatively early in His ministry He had stated this in His conversation with Nicodemus. But as He came down nearer and nearer to the time of His humiliation, His degradation, and realized all that it meant, He felt a great shrinking from it and poured out His heart in the cry, "If it be possible, let this Cup pass from Me!" But immediately-- proving that His affirmation, at the time of His consecration, "Lo I come to do Thy will, O God," was not empty words--He added, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
ARE WE WILLING TO SHARE HIS IGNOMINY?
And so to His disciples our Savior said: Are you able to lay down your lives completely, even though this shall mean to you injustice in the taking away of your lives?
Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of? There will be disgrace and ignominy connected with it all.
Are ye willing to share with me in this, My Cup? They answered: "We are able." They were willing.
This, we see, is the same Cup represented in the Communion Service. The bread represents the body, and the wine the blood of our Lord. The Cup especially represented the shame and ignominy connected with His death, and the disciples said that they were willing to share His Cup--they had no hesitancy. At any cost they would be faithful. They would comply with any conditions He would make. They did not, of course, yet know the, full import (the true significance and implication) in the word baptism or the word Cup, 'These were things all His disciples were feeling after. When Pentecost should come, these things that Jesus had spoken to them would come to their remembrance, as He had foretold. (John 16:4; 13:19) But they were willing and anxious. And that is all that we can be. Jesus guaranteed that, being willing, they should have these experiences', that, continuing willing, continuing to suffer with Him here, they should reign with Him in His Throne.
The courage, the fortitude, of our dear Redeemer in walking the Narrow Way fills us with admiration. How strong and brave was His character! He had no thought of looking back; His whole being was intent upon accomplishing the will of His Father in Heaven-upon sacrificing Himself in the interest of the world. What a noble Example was set before the Apostles!—and of ourselves, GREATNESS IN HUMILITY, VICTORY THROUGH ENTIRE SELF-SURRENDER!” (R5421)
In our next post we would like to expand a bit on this thought of the cup and how it pertains to us.
