The Cup of God's Wrath

Jeremiah 25:15-38 teaches...

Many metaphors are used to describe God in the book of Jeremiah. He’s a shepherd, he’s a righteous branch, he’s a judge, and a king. But he’s also like the person in a restaurant serving your drinks.

Jeremiah 25:15 CSB

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand and make all the nations to whom I am sending you drink from it.

With God when he comes around to offer you a drink there’s no declining.

This is a cup of judgement that God has prepared for every nation of the world and no nation will be allowed to say “I’m not thirsty” because all be forced to drink the cup of God’s wrath.

In verses 19-25 all of the known nations at the time are listed—the point being that no nation will be exempt. All the kingdoms on the face of the earth will be required to drink of the cup of God’s wrath.

Not even Jerusalem will be exempt and Jer 25:29 says they will be the first ones served. “For I am already bringing disaster on the city that bears my name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished...”

Jer 25:27 describes their punishment, “Then you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, as a result of the sword I am sending among you.’”

We like to make fun of the drunk person stumbling around but it’s no laughing matter when he falls over and never gets up again. That’s what happens when we are made to drink the cup of God’s wrath.

But, there are three kinds of cups in Scripture that we need to know about. There’s a cup for every sinner, a cup for Christ, and a new cup for Christians.

A Cup for Every Sinner

Every sinner who doesn’t repent, not just every nation, will be made to drink from the cup of God’s wrath. Every nation and every individual will be held accountable for every sin.

Jeremiah 25:31 CSB

The tumult reaches to the ends of the earth because the Lord brings a case against the nations. He enters into judgment with all humanity. As for the wicked, he hands them over to the sword— this is the Lord’s declaration.

John, in the book of Revelation, says in Rev 14:10-11 “he (every sinner) will drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever...”

If Jesus offers you this cup will you drink it? Well, if you are a sinner who refuses to repent you must drink it because you will have no choice. We will all reap what we sow.

But there is a way for sinners to avoid the cup of God’s wrath and that’s to let Jesus drink it for you.

A Cup for Christ

In chapter 51 of Isaiah the cup of God’s wrath is also described in horrific terms. Those that must drink it are described as stumbling around, falling to the ground, and landing in their own vomit.

But then God says something remarkable...

Isaiah 51:22 CSB

This is what your Lord says— the Lord, even your God, who defends his people— “Look, I have removed from your hand the cup that causes staggering; that goblet, the cup of my fury. You will never drink it again.

God is looking forward to a time when the cup of his fury will be taken away, completely. The persecution of his people by Babylon and Assyria will be no more. The captivity will end and his people will be sent back to their homeland.

But verse 22 also describes a time even more amazing. It describes a time when the Messiah will redeem his people by taking the cup of wrath from the hands of sinners and drinking it himself so that his people never have to drink it again.

Jesus spoke about this fulfillment when he said to the disciples,

Matthew 26:38-39 “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 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.””

The bitter mixture in the cup of God’s wrath was so awful that even Jesus hesitated to drink it down.

Matthew 26:42 “Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

And God’s will had the last word. So Jesus tilted his head back and drank every last drop. He didn’t just take a sip, he drank it all. He endured 100% of the wrath of God until he cried out in John 19:30 “It is finished.”

If you know that you are a sinner, then you need to also know that you don’t need to drink the cup of God’s wrath yourself. You can pass the the cup to Christ who will volunteer to drink it for you.

And now for those who trust in Christ, there isn’t any bitter wine left to drink. What’s left is only sweet and delicious.

A New Cup for Christians

God’s promise in Isaiah 51:22 was that God’s people will never again need to drink of the cup of God’s wrath. Those who trust in Jesus as their Savior can rest assured that 100% of their sins have been atoned for and there is nothing left to do accept keep trusting in Christ who did it all.

Instead, of drinking the cup of God’s wrath, Jesus’ followers are instructed drink a different drink.

Matthew 26:27–29 CSB

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 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.”

Each time we partake of the Lord’s supper we eat the bread and we drink from the cup. This points back to what Jesus did on the cross but it also points forward to a great banquet, the marriage feast of the Lamb, when Jesus himself will serve us.

This new cup is the blood of the covenant. It’s not literal blood, but a drink that represents Jesus’ blood and salvation from sin. This cup used to be bitter but is now completely sweet for those who trust in Christ for the complete forgiveness of all their sins.