Untitled Sermon (4)

PART TWO

Jesus, preparing for his death, prays in the Garden, following his Last Supper.

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

“THE CUP”

“The cup” can be a metaphor for one’s destiny. The psalms speak of “the cup of salvation.” Often it is related to wrath and suffering ().

Interesting possible connection with Passover here. Because we aren’t experts in Jewish tradition, I hesitate to make too much of this. We will note it, but in the end, our focus in on Jesus’ work and sacrifice not Passover tradition. That being said, at Passover, a 5th cup of wine is often poured that they don’t drink. The 4 cups look back to God’s rescue. The 5th looks forward.

Jesus finishes his meal with the disciples and he is going to drink a “5th cup” so to speak. He is going to drink the cup of judgement, wrath, and suffering. He is going to drink the cup of our consequences. Jesus is going to drink the cup so we don’t have to.

++ There are a handful of clear times in my mind when this become very real to me. That Jesus died for me - that God loves me that much! The first time, I was a teenager, sitting in a Gathering, feeling God’s draw, but telling myself that I didn’t need to respond, I was good, I wasn’t bad, I would be okay. I didn’t want to accept it, but I was trying to stay in control and was scared of trusting God with my sin, my heart, my life…Then I did. I stepped out in faith, got on my knees and said, over a period of maybe 30 minutes “sorry” and “thank you.”

I didn’t realize it but what I did at that time was walk through Three R’s.

Recognize lack. Repent & change directions. Receive by trusting.

Recognized, I am not good enough for God. I fall short. I need to be rescued.

Repent - gave up control and turned towards Jesus. “Sorry” is a part of that.

Receive - trust his love, trust Jesus died and rose for you. “Thank you” is a part of that.

We deserve to drink the cup of death. God is Holy & Just, ignoring sin and evil goes against his character. God is Love is leaving us in our sin goes against his character. So God the Son, Jesus, drank it so we don’t have to, and therefore God’s wrath is averted from us. We all need Jesus!

WRATH. Judgement. This sounds harsh doesn’t it?

When the scriptures talk about God’s wrath against sin. We aren’t talking about wild grumpiness. Listen to this quote from author and pastor Timothy Keller

Keller Quote

“Now when you think of wrath, you’re thinking of crankiness. You’re thinking of your wrath. You’re thinking of my wrath. Let’s not for a moment, but think of it more like this. The wrath of God is his settled opposition on the basis of a breach of the Law of God, and a breach of justice.

Therefore, it would be more like this. Your electric company sends you a notice that says you’re going to be cut off. Why? You haven’t paid your bill in so many months. At that point, you’re experiencing the wrath of your electric company. It may not have any personal animosity, but what it’s doing is giving you settled opposition on the basis of your disobedience. If someone comes along and pays the bill, it turns aside the wrath. It turns aside the opposition of the electric company, and the lights go on.

- Timothy J. Keller

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

On our own, we deserve death, and face the wrath of God but Jesus drank the cup. Jesus paid the bill so the light could go on!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The big Bible word for this is “propitiation.” The averting of God’s wrath.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Propitiation is God opposing sin without opposing us.

Scholar-Pastor, Darrell Johnson says:

At the cross, God saves us "from himself - for himself." - Darrell Johnson

What we see in the cross is the great reversal of what is expected in religion. God is not passive but active. He approaches humanity not the other way around. He sacrifices - not the other way around. He serves us first - not the other way around. He suffers - not the other way around. It is the mysterious, unexpected, gloriously beautiful truth of what occurred on the ugly bloody cross.

Jesus makes a way for us to be rescued, the Ultimate New Exodus. Jesus it the Passover Lamb!

He takes the wages of death and sheds his blood so we can live. Jesus is our Sacrifice!

Jesus reconciles us, he removes the barrier of sin that we can have access to relationship with the Father. Jesus is our reconciler!

Jesus drinks the cup so that we don’t face the wrath of God. Jesus is our propitiation!

SPURGEON

“There was your cup of wrath which you must drink for ever, and which you could never drain to the bottom. It must be drunk by someone. Jesus drinks it, sets the cup to his lips, and the very first drop of it makes him sweat great drops of blood falling to the ground; but he drinks right on, though head, and hands, and feet are all suffering: drinks right on, though he cries, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Drinks right on, I say, until not one black drop could be found within that cup, and, turning it upside down, he cries, “It is finished. It is finished,” as he gives up his spirit… [In love] the Lord has drunk condemnation dry for every one of his people for whom he shed his blood. “Justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

We all need Jesus!

We are like Judas, our heart betrays God.

We are like James + John, we slip into sleepful apathy rather than persevering with Jesus.

We are like Adam & Eve, doubting in our garden, rebelling when it comes to our tree. Jesus trusts and submits in his Garden and willingly goes to his tree.

We are like Pilate, we don’t understand Jesus’ position or plan, and end up protecting our own interests.

We are like Peter, fearing others, we act ashamed of Jesus.

We are like Barabbas, we have acted in anger, and yet like him, we who are guilty get to walk free, while Jesus who is innocent takes our place, drinking the cup we deserve.

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

God is Holy & Just. Sin will not be ignored. This is good.

God is love. He has died for you, he has taken your cup. That is good.

We all need Jesus.

5th CUP: Please fill your cup for a 5th time but do not drink it.

This 5th cup signifies the consequences for sin, the judgement.

Consider how Jesus drinks the cup of death in our place as we listen to the account of his death.

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PART THREE: 5th Cup Response

We will have an opportunity to respond after a video with this 5th cup. Please do not drink it.

This cup signifies the cup of judgement, wrath, and death. It is ours to drink. But Jesus came to drink it.

If there was another way, he would have avoided, but this was his plan of love before creation. He dies and drinks because of love for you, for us.

Great Treasure who Pays the Ultimate Price

Saviour & the Sacrifice.

Priest & Propitiation

Just and Justifier 

God and man.

Holy and humble

All-knowing yet knowable

Knowing no mysteries

Calmer of the loudest seas

Sovereign Lord & Son of Man

Roaring Lion & Quiet Lamb.

It is finished is His cry

He drinks the cup for you and I

Author of Life Choosing to Die.

Innocent King breathing his last in pain

Sanctifier being slain

The world will never be the same

Praise Praise Jesus Name!

Allow God to remind you of his love, as we watch a clip of Jesus’ death. This is graphic. It is a reminder of the consequence of sin, and God’s love for us. Jesus drinks the cup.