Take this Cup
The sweet, deep red wine swirled steadily in the long stemmed glass. The lights glimmered in the liquid casting stars on the surface of the drink.
How could a cup so beautiful represent a moment of evil fury? How could the God of the universe deliver his only Son into the dark hands of death represented by this cup?
Jeremiah describes a “cup of fury” given by God for the nations, including Israel. “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath,” God tells Jeremiah. (See Jeremiah 25:15.)
The translucence of the wine becomes clouded. The swirling stops.
This command to Jeremiah from the Almighty God leads us to the New Testament words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me (Matthew 26:39, NIV).”
God chose a beautiful, elegant taste to graphically represent fury and death. To be bitter in the mouth of Christ who in a moment of earthly thinking wished to refuse it.
The hand begins the circular motion again. He contemplates placing the up back where it came from. Instead, he tilts his head back and drinks it all. It’s bitter when it first touches his tongue, but as he swirls the wine across his taste buds the true sweetness penetrates.
The sweetness of life everlasting represented by the very palatable wine contrast with bitter death Christ drank on the cross. Christ, the Son of Man, desired to refuse the cup. But the Son of God drank it all.
At the Last Supper Jesus told the disciples, “Take eat; this is my body (Matthew 26:26, KJV).” Then, when he took the cup, he prayed. He gave the cup to each of the disciples saying, “Drink ye all of it (Matthew 26:28, NIV).”
Symbolically the disciples drank of all the cup represented. They accepted the blood atonement of Christ shed on the cross for the remission of sin. (See Matthew 26:28.) They joined with him in drinking all of it, even unto death.
He passes the wine goblet to the man standing next to him. The first person swirls it profusely contemplating the Giver’s words and deeds. Do they dare follow this man who says drink today and let God’s will be done tomorrow? Slowly the cup travels around the room each person accepting his part in the bitter, sweet drama and its dénouement.
Today Jesus still says, “Drink ye all of it” to us, his disciples. Each time we participate in the ordinance of communion, we renew our decision to accept all the cup represents for our lives.
Drink ye all of it!
Chronological Bible Daily Reading Schedule
Our One Year Bibles finally arrived at Bristol Bay Church, Dillingham, AK. We have decided to start on March 17, 2024, which means it will take until next March 17, 2025, to finish reading all the way through. If you asked for a soft cover copy or would like one, please see me on anytime this week or on Sunday. I have about 10 of these. You can also purchase the electronic copy on Christianbook.com The One Year Chronological Bible NLT - eBook: 9781414361628 - Christianbook.com I will have a few journals and notebooks as well in case you want one to keep your answers in to the questions below in a notebook. And/or send them to me and we can stay in contact: pastorval@bristolbay.church
For those who want to read along in your own Bible, I will publish the passages for the week in a special column to check off. I look forward to reading with you. Each week I will also send some study questions to go with your reading if you choose to use them. Reply with questions and answers. I look forward to reading God's Word with you daily.
August 5
Jeremiah 25:15-38
Jeremiah 36:1-32
Jeremiah 45:1-5
Jeremiah 46:1-28
August 6
Jeremiah 19-20
Daniel 1:1-21
August 7
Daniel 2-3
Jeremiah 7:1-8:3
August 8
Jeremiah 8-11
August 9
Jeremiah 12-15
August 10
Jeremiah 16-18
Jeremiah 35
August 11
Jeremiah 49
Jeremiah 22:24-23:32
2 Kings 24:5-9
2 Chronicles 36:6-8
