Let This Cup Pass From Me

Profound Understanding

My Papaw Tollett was a Missionary Baptist preacher.

What he lacked in physical stature, he more than made up for in spiritual boldness.

He was a pillar of our church.  A strong cornerstone – not one to ever shy away from the Truth.

His call was more to evangelism and leadership.  I’m not aware of him ever holding the office of pastor in a church.

Every Sunday morning, after the sermon had finished and the altar call given, Brother Stewart – our pastor – would ask if anyone, “Has a word or announcement?” before the closing prayer.  It was a rare day indeed, if my Papaw didn’t have something to say, which he usually began by declaring, “Now I don’t want to add anything to the pastor’s message…”  And then…he would add something to the pastor’s message.

Papaw passed away just a few days before my 16th birthday.  I remember many of his sermons, but I am so glad that some of them are recorded.  In one sermon that stands out to me, he was talking about the price Jesus paid for our sins.  He quoted Matthew 26:39,

Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…

Then my Papaw said something so profound it has stayed with me all these years:

“What was in that cup?”  He paused and let his question sink in, then he answered, “I, Tollett, was in that cup.”

Papaw became emotional as he explained that he had put Jesus on that cross, that he had caused His terrible suffering, and that it was because of my Papaw that Jesus had died.

The full weight of his keen observation wasn’t felt until many years later, but I knew – even as a kid – this was a revelation that needed to be understood.

The Wrath of God

The cup Jesus prayed to be removed was full of the Wrath of God.

There are many verses in scripture that describe the cup of the Wrath of God.  This is from Revelation 14:9-11:

And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also 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…”

What is God so angry at? 

Sin.  Sin separates us from God.  Sin is dark and ugly, (Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 50:16-23).

God’s holiness is so powerful, He IS light.  He is beautiful.  His righteousness is pure, (Romans 1:20, Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 15:3-4).

In order for humans to reconcile their relationship with God after the fall, the issue of sin had to be permanently addressed.  That is what Jesus came to do, (Hebrews 13:20).

Jesus knew when He drank from that cup, He would be separated from God.  The cost of the redemption of man was far more than Jesus experiencing a human death.  He became sin, and was separated from the Father, 2 Corinthians 5:21:

 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Whose sin did our precious Savior become?

My Papaw’s.  Paul’s.  John’s.  Charles Spurgeon’s.  Fanny Crosby’s.  Lottie Moon’s.  Your neighbor’s.  Your 3rd grade teacher’s.  Your son’s.  Your best friend’s.  The guy who holds up a sign on the street corner every day.  Donald Trump’s.  Everyone’s.

Yours.

Mine.  

Pray Like Jesus

Now, I believe the way Jesus lived His life is the perfect example for us to follow.

Yes, Jesus did pray (twice) for the Lord to remove this particular situation from His path.  He was deeply troubled by it and honest with God about His feelings.  While He took His petition to the Lord and asked for something, in full submission to the Father, Jesus closes by saying (Matthew 26:39),

Yet not as I will, but as you will.

In what I find to be an even more powerful testament to the submission Jesus has to the Father, just a couple of verses later when He returns to prayer the second time He says (Matthew 26:42),

My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.

Jesus showed us how to pray.  He showed us to be honest with our feelings.  It doesn’t matter what they are…maybe you’re scared, mad, terribly anxious, desperate even.  Take it to the Lord.  Tell Him your heart and be honest about what you want.  But – just like Jesus – understand and accept that you are under submission to the will of God, and His will may not exactly fit what it is you are asking for.

I have heard the argument from many Christians that ending a prayer with, “Your will be done,” is just a cop-out and proves that you don’t have faith.  All I’ve got to say to that is they must not have read some of the most important parts of the Word of God or they know very little about Jesus, because Jesus Himself ended His prayer that way.  Maybe it is a cop-out for someone who doesn’t even understand in the first place, but for a born-again Believer who comprehends his place in the grand scheme of things and knows that God’s will is sovereign above all else, it’s an acknowledgement of His Lordship in your life, and a declaration that no matter what happens you trust God and will praise and worship Him.

People all over the globe are teaching their children to ask God for things in prayer and then they have to “really believe it” or it won’t happen.  So, when they pray to be cured from their childhood cancer and if that miracle doesn’t happen for them, it’s because they didn’t really believe it.  Makes me want to slap somebody.

That is NOT what Jesus taught!

My Cup Runneth Over

It could not pass unless Jesus drank from the cup.  So, drink He did.

What was in that cup?

I, Tricia, was in that cup of wrath accumulated against every type of sin ever committed by all man:  murder, lies, pride, jealousy, lust, hate, and unbelief just to name a few.  The full fury of God was poured out on the cross when Jesus drank this cup.

I put Him on that cross, and so did you.

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