Sorrow, Surrender, and The Cup

Welcome

Intro

Introduction: The Table Behind Them

READ: Matthew 26:26–30

Matthew 26:26–30 CSB

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Paint the scene: it's late at night after the Passover meal. They get up from the table and walk into the dark toward the Mount of Olives.

Last Week Pastor Rustan touched on the Four Cups of the Passover Seder which were put into place in Exodus Chapter 6.

God made four "I will" promises:The four cups.READ: Exodus 6:6–7.

Exodus 6:6–7 CSB

6 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians.

These are the four Cups of the Seder

Cup of Sanctification: "I will bring you out."

Cup of Deliverance: "I will rescue you."

Cup number 3 is the cup after supper (1 Cor 10:16). Jesus lifts it and says, "This is my blood of the covenant. This Cup is the “Cup of Redemption: "I will redeem you."

Cup of Consummation: "I will take you as my people."

They've drunk three of the four cups, and Jesus has vowed not to drink again "until that day" (v. 29).

(Expound on different beliefs but I will share where I land at the end of the message.)

The word tells us they drank and then sang a Hymn. Many Scholars believe it was The Hallel. : "I will take the cup of salvation." What they sang (v. 30).READ: Psalm 116:12–13

Psalm 116:12–13 CSB

12 How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

Jesus walked out of that room carrying a cup. Keep your eye on it.

Before go on I want to pose a Question for you.

When are we most in danger spiritually?

When we are most sure of ourselves and our own abilities!

Body

I. The Warning: The Struck Shepherd (vv. 31–35)

Matthew 26:31–35 CSB

31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.

READ: Zechariah 13:7–9.

Zechariah 13:7–9 CSB

7 Sword, awake against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate— this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. 8 In the whole land— this is the Lord’s declaration— two-thirds will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in it. 9 I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

The shepherd is struck and the sheep scatter.

But

This is Why you have to read to the end:

The remnant is refined, and God says, "They are my people."

You see the The fourth-cup promise is already in view.

“Now notice the word “Fall away"

The greek word (skandalizō) used here means to stumble or be tripped up.

This same word is used in Matthew 24:10.

Matthew 24:10 CSB

10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another.

Jesus is telling them all they are going to fall away…They are going to fail….. They are going to deny Him.

This is Why it is so important that we do not skip over the incarnation of Jesus. He literally has experienced every feeling and disappoint that we can and will ever feel.

The difference is that He sees it coming and we don’t………

He sees it coming and look at His response….

"I will go ahead of you to Galilee." Jesus promises restoration before they fall.

Matthew 26:32 CSB

32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Jesus shows Grace before the failure!

Now notice Peter.

Matthew 26:33–35 CSB

33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.

Was Peter lying?

No.

He meant it.

So what went wrong? (Hold that question for v. 41.)

Let’s continue Reading

II. The Sorrow: The Oil Press (vv. 36–38)

READ: Matthew 26:36–38

Matthew 26:36–38 CSB

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”

Gethsemane means "oil press."

Jesus tells everyone but Peter, James, and John to hang back.

The same three who saw His glory.

Now have to see Him crushed.

READ: Matthew 17:1–2.

Matthew 17:1–2 CSB

1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.

Notice Jesus’ words here “I am deeply grieved to the point of death."

This echoes Psalm 42:5. Jesus prays the laments.

Psalm 42:5 CSB

5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

Contrast:

Peter was full of confidence.

Jesus is full of sorrow.

Which one is actually showing strength here?

III. The Cup: Which Cup? (v. 39)

READ: Matthew 26:39

Matthew 26:39 CSB

39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Discovery question:

"Let this cup pass from me."

What Cup is He talking about here?

It's the same cup He lifted at the table:

The cup of redemption.

At the table, redemption was announced.

In the garden, Jesus accepts what it will cost.

READ: Matthew 20:20–23.

Matthew 20:20–23 CSB

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. 21 “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” “We are able,” they said to him. 23 He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

"Can you drink the cup?"

"You will indeed drink my cup."

The disciples share this cup.

It's the cup of obedience, the path the Father has appointed.

The Cup the Father Provided………

Psalm 16:5 CSB

5 Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future.

IV. The Surrender and the Sleepers (vv. 39–44)

READ: Matthew 26:40–44

Matthew 26:40–44 CSB

40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

The prayer grows:

v. 39: "If it is possible… yet not as I will, but as you will."

v. 42: "If this can't pass unless I drink it, your will be done."

Compare Matthew 6:10.

Matthew 6:10 CSB

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus demonstrates that the heart of the obedient always says “Your Will Be Done.”

v. 44: tells that he repeats this prayer three times.

Then you have the sleepers.

They drank from the cup at the table, but they can't stay awake one hour.

This shows us that you can receive the cup in ritual and still fail to drink it in obedience.

v. 41: says The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

This answers the question we asked about Peter earlier. Why Would Peter fail?

Olivet callback:"Be alert."

READ: Matthew 25:13.

Matthew 25:13 CSB

13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

We could spend weeks here looking at all the symbolism and moments that cross scripture

Notice:

Jesus prays three times and stands.

Peter sleeps, and then denies Him three times.

Notice the contrast between two Garden Moments:

Romans 5:19.

Romans 5:19 CSB

19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Adam said "my will."

Jesus says "your will."

Notice what Hebrews 5 says about this moment.

Hebrews 5:7–9.

Hebrews 5:7–9 CSB

7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

“He learned obedience from what He suffered.”

He prays three times and then

V. The Rising: "Get up; let's go." (vv. 45–46)

READ: Matthew 26:45–46

Matthew 26:45–46 CSB

45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

He walks toward the betrayer with the cup accepted.

Foreshadow:

Soon we will see the sheep will scatter (v. 56),

But Remember the the promise of v. 32 stands.

The promise that we will see fulfilled in Matthew 28:7.

Matthew 28:7 CSB

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

Conclusion: The Fourth Cup Waits

As we close today I want to go back to verse 29.

READ: Matthew 26:29

Matthew 26:29 CSB

29 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

The meal isn't finished.

One cup was carried into the garden.

One cup is still waiting.

I told you I would tell you where I land on the fourth cup.

The marriage supper of the Lamb is where the cup of consummation is lifted when He returns to set up His kingdom.

READ: Revelation 19:6–9.

Revelation 19:6–9 CSB

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”

Last week we took communion together.

1 Corinthians 11:26 CSB

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

"Until he comes." Every time we take Communion, we're living between the cups.

Oscar Cullman framed it this way:

The decisive victory is won with the third cup , and the final victory is assured with the fourth cup.

Application

Because of what Jesus has done: We don't confuse confidence with faithfulness. We pray.

Because of what Jesus has done: We bring our sorrow to the Father honestly. Knowing Surrender often grows one prayer at a time.

Because of what Jesus has done: We drink His cup by following Him in obedience, not only at the table.

Because of what Jesus has done: When we scatter, the Shepherd has already promised to go ahead of us.

Closing Line

"Jesus left the table with one cup in His hands and one cup still waiting. He carried the cup of redemption into the garden and drank it in obedience. One day He'll lift the last cup with us in His kingdom. Until then, we do what He asked: stay awake and pray."

Invitation

Offering

Announcements