The Cup of Blessing
John 18:1-11
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?
I start my day drinking water and take a pill of thyroid. Then, I drink coffee or any tea for breakfast and lunch as well. In a word, I use many cups a day. Without cups, I couldn't even spend my day. We, Korean, have a drinking culture of not refusing a cup that was given by anyone who is older or superior. The cup plays the role of keeping something to drink, so it could contain a good or bad thing, such as some poisons or some wine or good drink.
Historically, there were some forefathers who had been forced to drink some poisoned liquid for many reasons. The cup of Socrates, the philosopher of Greek, contained poison that caused him to die right away. The cup of Jesus contained His own blood of sacrifices for all mankind. He willingly drank it, obeying God, as it was His purpose of coming to this earth and the goal of His life. He came to this world in order to die. Thus, He couldn't refuse it at all, rather He was about to drink it, without any excuses or denial.
Before He was arrested by soldiers, who could have done this as an order of commanders, He prayed for the sake of the glory of God, and for His disciples, including those who would be believers, who might be the sheep who hear the voices of their own good shepherd. In short, He was praying for others, who could be one of His own sheep as well. He looked so bold and merciful that the soldiers and servants of Pharisees were fallen to the ground. Without any reasons for death, He had gone through it for all who are sinful men, who couldn't connect the gap between God and us by themselves.
He played a kind of bridge of connecting as a mediator between God and humans, so that we may restore a good relationship with each other like the seemingly good relations at the beginning of Genesis. That needs tons of effort and sacrifices of bleeding every drop of it, and it is the only ceremony of cleansing all the sins of humans at once. There is no other way we can do, or no one could do it, as no one qualifies for that as a Holy man.
Therefore, He couldn't refuse the cup of death at all, and it finally became the cup of thanks and blessing for all believers, including me. I appreciate the cup of Jesus and I would like to join the ceremony of drinking it. Yet, I am not confident of being one of the participants up there on the cross. But I hope that in the face of death I could be bold and merciful as Jesus showed at that moment.
