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Matt. 26:36-46
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. On this day when we will come to the Lord’s Table to remember that our spiritual freedom in Christ wasn’t free, I am going to share with you 4 different “cups” from which Christ drank before He released His spirit into His Father’s hands. Our focal passage tells us Jesus prayed in an attitude of sorrow and trouble that no other human being has, or will, ever experience. We cannot possibly know extent of that sorrow and trouble that even now began to fill His holy heart! In John 18:1-11 we see the 1st cup Jesus drank even before the nails were driven was
- THE CUP OF MISCONDUCT! From a Biblical perspective misconduct can be defined as people trying to do God’s work in their own way. This is one of those times when Peter wasn’t acting in rebellion to God, and thinking he knew best! He was acting (albeit without thinking, and on impulse) to defend Jesus! His actions tell us he could have been thinking he was the one who had to save Jesus! This idea of misconduct can be seen in 3 of the 4 Gospels. Each one presents a different, but pointed picture of the rebuke. Here John reveals purpose indicating that bloodshed is not Jesus’ mission; Matt. reveals power in the truth that Jesus has sovereign control; and Luke reveals purpose showing us that Jesus has to correct our blunders. So be careful how you get on Peter for this act of blundering impulsiveness until you are sure you are not guilty of the same blundering impulsiveness in your own life. The next cup Jesus drank was:
- THE CUP OF MISREPRESENTATION – Mark 15:21-23. One was the misrepresentation of compassion for Him as they compelled Simon to carry His cross. The only compassion the Roman soldiers had was for making a person suffer as much pain as possible in crucifixion! They compelled Simon to carry His cross so He wouldn’t die before they crucified Him. Another misrepresentation was that of concern. The drink they offered Him would somewhat anesthetize Him, making the pain of being nailed to the cross less severe. Jesus knew there would be no relief from the pain. He also knew He must not be impaired in His mind, so He could focus fully on His work at hand. Question: what misrepresentation of the world are you buying? What fake anesthetic is the world offering you to distract you from the full importance of your work for Christ? Are you being deceived into thinking the world’s way is easier than God’s way? Next Jesus drank:
- THE CUP OF MOCKERY! Luke 23:35-39. Notice how Jesus was mocked by every level of the society He came to redeem. He was also mocked on every level of His own life. He was mocked first in His position. The soldiers also mocked His Person. If He really was the Son of God how could He save others and not save Himself. If He really was God how come He was nailed to a Cross? Jesus was also mocked as to His power. He saved others, let Him save Himself. Finally, Jesus drank:
- THE CUP OF MERCY! John 19:28-30. Look at the clear display of divine power and determination to carry out, to the fullest, the will of God The Father. See it in v. 28 in the phrase, “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished…” Albeit subtle, the message of truth that this Man Jesus, is fully God is revealed here. Only God would know when all His wrath, hatred, and punishment for all of the sin of all humanity was finished! The real cup of mercy was not put on a hyssop branch and lifted up that day, the real cup of mercy was poured out from heaven because of a Savior Who hung in your place. The cup of misconduct reminds us to let Jesus be our influence and let Him do battel on His terms; the cup of misrepresentation reminds us not to be deceived by the fake allurements of the ungodly world around us; the cup of mockery reminds us to stand fast in our salvation, because one day we will be rewarded for our faithfulness; the cup of mercy reminds us that even though none of us deserve s redemption, God love us so much He could not stand idly by and watch us perish without offering us a way of salvation.
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