What Was the Cup Jesus Prayed Would Pass from Him?
On the night before Jesus was crucified, He said to His disciples, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” He went into the garden, fell on His face, and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:36-56).
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:36-39)
Luke 22:44 says, “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood.” Three times He prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but yours be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat become like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:42-44)
“My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done”…and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. (Matthew 26:42-44)
What is this cup that caused Jesus such agony? Many believe it was the way He was about to die. Indeed, crucifixion was such a painful form of punishment, a new word was coined to describe it: “excruciating”, meaning “out of the cross”.
But many Christians, beginning with the apostles, have rejoiced to suffer for the gospel. Why was Jesus in dread?
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, fr your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
Because the cup He was to drink from was the cup of God’s wrath. Psalm 75:8 says:
“For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and He pours out from it and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.”
It’s that cup Jesus drank for His own when He died on the cross for our sins. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Whoever who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on Him (John 3:36).
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10),
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)
