Cup of Wrath

Reading Luke’s description of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, Jesus’ innocence stands out. The Jewish council of elders accused Jesus of being the Son of God … and Jesus did not deny it.

By God’s law, claiming to be God is blasphemy. Blasphemy is punishable by death. Unless it’s true, of course.

In the opening chaps. of his gospel, Luke showed that Jesus is the Lord God Almighty, coming to meet with his people.

· The angel of the Lord described Jesus as the son of God.

· Inspired by the HS, Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah identified Mary’s baby Jesus as the Lord.

· John the Baptist’s job is to prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke is quite clear: Jesus is innocent of blasphemy. He doesn’t deserve to die because he is God the Son.

And Jesus is innocent of the charges brought against him before the Roman judges. That’s Pilate’s conclusion:

You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Luke 23:14–15 (NIV)

Why has the faith of Christians over the centuries and around the world focused on the death of an innocent man?

Jesus is the whipping boy for our wrongdoing. Jesus suffered the punishment for the sin and disobedience of other people.

· If you have always worshipped our Creator and God as #1 in your life, using his name respectfully and obeying God in all areas of life, then Good Friday is just another day for you.

· If you are a good person who has never said anything rude or hurtful or untruthful to anyone, never coveted or stolen anything, and never committed any sexual sins then Jesus’ suffering and death doesn’t affect you.

· But … if you have rebelled against God and done wrong to the people around you, like I have, then Jesus’ crucifixion makes a world of difference.

We read God’s word through Isaiah explain it earlier:

He was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

The Bible talks about the punishment for sin using the imagery of a cup of wine. Jeremiah is one of 6 OT prophets who talks about the wine of God’s wrath.

Jesus shows the connection between the OT imagery and his mission. He came to drink the cup of God’s wrath to spare us from God’s righteous anger at our sin. You get a sense of the dread Jesus has when Luke describes Jesus’ fervent prayer on the Mt of Olives:

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me;

yet not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42 (NIV)

Despite Jesus’ wish to avoid drinking the cup of God’s wrath, Jesus does his heavenly Father’s will.

At the cross, Jesus endured God’s wrath on human sin. He was mocked, beaten, and insulted. He was stripped naked and shamed the way Adam & Eve were. Jesus was crucified – nailed to the cross.

Luke doesn’t get into the details of crucifixion because people in the Roman Empire didn’t need to read the gory details. Most of them had witnessed the brutal suffering of a person hung on a cross. It wasn’t rare under Ceasar’s rule.

Then as Jesus died, Luke draws attention to Jesus’ innocence:

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Luke 23:46–47 (NIV)

As a righteous man, Jesus stood in the place of guilty people. He took the punishment rebels deserve. He died in our place to rescue us from sin and death. He drank the cup of God’s wrath down to the dregs so that our wrongdoing is covered, atoned for, and forgiven.

In a few minutes, we are going to eat the bread and drink the cup at Lord’s Supper. It’s a vivid reminder of Jesus’ death. The cup represents God’s wrath. The grape juice, whether it’s been fermented or not, reminds us that Jesus’ blood was shed for human sin. An innocent man bore God’s wrath in our place. Instead of a cup of wrath, it has become a cup of thanksgiving.

When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we identify with Jesus in his death. We died with Christ. Sin and death no longer have mastery over us.

Reading and reflecting on Jesus’ suffering and death is sobering. It’s personal. You’re invited to ponder how Jesus saved you from sin and death. Jesus offers forgiveness freely – but it’s not cheap. The OT prophet Isaiah said:

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)

Because Jesus suffered, we can become God’s offspring.

By faith in Jesus as your Saviour, you have become a dearly loved child of God.

Take time to ponder the price Jesus paid to rescue you. Reflect on his suffering and death – and be thankful, relieved, filled with joy – for by faith in Jesus, your sin against God and neighbour has been lifted off of you and you’ve been set free!

Get ready. We are about celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death. The cup of wrath has become the cup of thanksgiving!