Two Cups (Part 2)

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples a cup saying, “…This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you…” (Luke 22:20).

The cup was the fulfillment of an ancient promise – it contained an offer of forgiveness and divine fellowship which was beyond their imagination. But what would this offer cost?

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus drank from another cup. He prayed, “…Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done...” (Luke 22:42).

What poison was in that cup that caused Him so much anguish?

The cup was the manifestation of an ancient symbol of divine wrath – and its contents represented the sins of the world and the judgement they deserved. No wonder the sinless Saviour was deeply distressed as He faced it.

If you think the price was too great, as Anselm said, “…you have not yet considered the gravity of sin…”

This Easter let’s remember those two extreme cups. It's only as we consider the cost of one - that we begin to understand the grace of the other.

In one we will find our rebellion – in the other our redemption.

In one we will find our judgment – in the other our justification.

Jesus drank from the one - so that we could drink from the other.

Robert