Most of us will or have already today, raised a glass to our lips to take a drink. Whether it was a drink of water, coffee, beer or soda, it was a pleasant experience, or at least one that satisfied or quenched our thirst. With today being Good Friday, there’s another cup that we should all be aware of. It’s the cup of God’s wrath, and either you will drink it yourself someday, or Jesus has already drank it for you. There are no other options.
Whether Christian or non-Christian, many know that Jesus died on a cross. We’ve heard about the agony of dying that way. We’re familiar with the accounts of Him being betrayed, arrested, and mocked. We’ve heard of the crown of thorns that was placed on His head. We’ve been told about Him being beaten and scourged with the multi-stranded whips with bits of bone tied into them. But have you ever wondered what was the worst part of all of it? As horrible as all of these were, the worst wasn’t any of these. We get a glimpse of what was, though, when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested. Matthew 26:36-44 says:
“At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.”
What was going to be so agonizing that Jesus asked the Father three times that if there was any other way to save His people, then do it some other way? The cup. And what is that cup? It’s the cup of God’s wrath. Jesus knew how horrible all of the things that were going to happen to Him would be. But worst of all was going to be being forsaken by the Father and taking on the full punishment of God’s wrath for the sins of those He had come to save. Revelation 14:9-11 gives us a glimpse of the cup that is coming for those who don’t believe and trust in Jesus’ payment for their sin:
“And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. Day and night there will be no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
The next time you raise a glass, think about it…. are you going to be drinking the cup of God’s wrath yourself, or has Jesus already done it for you? If you’re not trusting and relying on the what He’s already done to pay for your sins, you will be drinking that cup yourself. It won’t matter how nice you are, how many good things you’ve done, or how much the people of the world love you. You will drink the cup.
The Good News of Good Friday is that you don’t have to drink it! Jesus died to pay for the sins of those who will trust in His shed blood for salvation. He drank the cup for all who will believe and trust in that! If you haven’t trusted in Jesus’ payment for your sin, then don’t wait! You can’t save yourself! Trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. It’s the only thing that can save you! Do it today!
“For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
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