Let This Cup Pass

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This sermon focuses on the words of Jesus as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion. This message provided a review of a familiar account for celebrating the Lord's Supper.

Written Excerpts:

Matthew 26:39 (NKJV) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Introduction:

The verse of Scripture I’ve read from Mt. 26:39 is one that has captured the interest of many people down through the years. Over time, I have heard different discussions and thoughts offered about what Jesus was really asking in this prayer. On this Sunday when we are celebrating the sacrament of communion, I want to point out some of the views offered regarding His prayer and then share some observations about it as we remember His sacrifice for our sins.

I.          Some views about the prayer’s intent.

I suppose that many of you have wondered about the actual meaning of Jesus’ prayer just as I have. 

With all the previous statements by Jesus about the purpose He came into the world and about His own death and resurrection, it may seem a little odd that He would pray for “this cup to pass.”

A. I’ve heard preachers in the past speak about the possibility that this is just an expression of His human desires even though He was also divine.

The explanation offered encourages us to remember that even though He was the Son of God, yet in His humanity He experienced the same normal temptations that the rest of us do, and He would have naturally wanted to avoid the suffering like any person would.

However, in contrast, we also have heard and read reports of various saints of God who rejoiced and seemed to welcome the opportunity to suffer for Christ. In comparison, it would almost seem that they do a better job facing the prospect of suffering than Jesus did.

John N. Oswalt – …what about all those people down through the ages who faced equally terrible deaths with a song on their lips? Why didn’t Jesus “bear up” better? (email devotional)

So, it must go deeper than just the fact that He experienced normal human temptation to avoid suffering and death, especially after He had already talked so much about it.

B.        A second view I remember hearing many years ago. A preacher presented a viewpoint that I’d heard from no one else.

I don’t remember the preacher’s name or where I even heard him preach, but I do remember that he had been a physician. He tried to describe from a physician’s point of view the physiological conditions Jesus must have been experiencing when He is described as “sweating as it were great drops of blood.” He concluded that the emotional and physical agony Jesus was experiencing right there in the Garden of Gethsemane had the potential of killing Him before He ever got to the cross. His take on this passage was that Jesus was praying for the Father to take away the “cup” of dying before He made it to the cross, but ultimately was willing to die that way if God willed.

Matthew 26:38 ^(NKJV) Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

“even to death” can be understood as the result of his grief and agony, or it could be the cause of the grief. (Tyndale Commentaries)

I had never heard this explanation before but I admit that it did seem to avoid the conflicting image of the Son of God hoping to avoid the cross after claiming many times that it was the reason He came into the world.

Matthew 16:21 ^(NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

C.        A third explanation I have come across lately ties in more closely with other Scriptures.

I receive frequent devotionals by email from Dr. John Oswalt, an OT scholar that I have quoted in various sermons and Bible studies. Recently he sent out a devotional about this text in Matthew. I saved it so I could refer back to it for this communion message.

Dr. Oswalt and others have linked Jesus’ use of the word “cup” to several OT passages where the judgment of God is described as being poured from a cup.

One clear example is: Ezekiel 23:31-35 ^(NKJV) You [i.e. Jerusalem] have walked in the way of your sister [i.e. Samaria]; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.' ³²  "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'You shall drink of your sister's cup, The deep and wide one; You shall be laughed to scorn And held in derision; It contains much. ³³  You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, The cup of horror and desolation, The cup of your sister Samaria. ³⁴  You shall drink and drain it, You shall break its shards, And tear at your own breasts; For I have spoken,' Says the Lord GOD. ³⁵  "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, Therefore you shall bear the penalty Of your lewdness and your harlotry.' " 

The direct wrath, fury, and judgment of God that includes intense suffering was clearly the meaning of the word “cup” in these OT references.

But in the case with Jesus, it means more than intense suffering. 

He had already acknowledged that some of His own disciples would drink the same cup of suffering as He was. See Matthew 20:22-23 ^(NKJV) But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." ²³  So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

However, their “cup” of suffering was for cause of Christ, not for their own sins or the sins of the nation.

His “cup” of suffering was not for His own sins, but it was for the sins of the whole world. He was to experience the fury and judgment of God for the sins of all humanity.

1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 

II.        Some observations worth noting.

A.        Jesus’ position – He “fell on his face…” This is the only time we are told that Jesus prostrated himself. Thus indicating the heavy burden and emotion that he experienced. (Tyndale Commentaries)

B.        Another observation ties in with one thing I mentioned earlier regarding the difference between Jesus’ cup of suffering and the disciples’ cup of suffering.

I already mentioned that His “cup” was different in the fact that He was suffering the consequences for the sins of the whole world, while they would be suffering for their testimony of Christ. 

There is another major difference besides this.

While they suffered for Christ, they experienced the presence of Christ.

But when He suffered for us, He suffered all alone, even including the abandonment of His Father in heaven.

I praise the Lord that Jesus my Savior was willing to drink the cup of all my judgment for my sins.

Conclusion:

As we close the message today, I just want to remind you that the “cup” that was staring Jesus in the face in Gethsemane was the cup we deserved. It was the cup of our judgment.

Here are more of Dr. Oswalt’s devotional comments:

Those consequences are pictured by the Hebrew prophets as a cup filled to the brim with the most ghastly brew: all the hatred, all the tragedy, all the loss, all the missed opportunities, all the petty nastiness stemming from our determination to have our own way. And we will drink it; those consequences can no more be escaped than can the loss of fingers when we unthinkingly reach across a running circular saw for something on the other side.

Yes, the “cup” must be drained. But suppose someone else – Someone else – were to drink it for us? The “cup” could be taken out of our hands, and put into his. Now all of a sudden the agony of Gethsemane makes sense. Jesus was not agonizing over the circumstances of his own death, terrible as it was. He was agonizing over the hideous thought of having to drink the devil’s brew in our cup, the cup of all humanity: all the hurt, all the grief, all the terror, all the evil of all time, and in the end, for him who is Life alone, the Death of us all. Who in their right mind would willingly do that? Only one who was motivated by a bottomless love, a love for his Father whom he lived to please, and a love for the poor, pitiful creatures whom he had made for love.

As we prepare to share the elements of communion, let’s sing Blest Feast of Love Divine.

One Greater than Solomon

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This sermon is based on the biblical story of the Queen of Sheba coming to visit king Solomon, including the words of Jesus as He compares her to the Jewish leaders of His day.

Written Excerpts:

Luke 11:31 ^(NKJV) The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Introduction:

Have you ever had the privilege of traveling somewhere and seeing some great sight that you were anxious to tell someone about? Think of some of the places you’ve been. Which place, or which sight made the greatest impression on you?

Our sermon today is about someone who had no doubt seen a lot of magnificent places and many wonderful things, but was totally astounded by what she saw when she visited the king of Israel.

If you have read through the Gospels even one time, you probably have noticed the conflicts that Jesus had with the religious rulers and religious elite in His time. Jesus was constantly battling against the entrenched ideas that had been firmly established in the religious status quo for quite some time. One of the ironic situations in those days was the pride and arrogance that the Jewish rulers had regarding their spiritual heritage and the supposed compliance with the law of God, yet they were strongly opposed to the kind of genuine spiritual life that Jesus was emphasizing.

There were times when Jesus would use some of the most unlikely people as prime examples of God-seekers and God-followers so it would grab the attention of His hearers. In the story of the Good Samaritan, it was a “despised Samaritan” who actually is portrayed as the model example of love in the story. This must have truly irritated some of the listeners. In the text we are considering today we see a similar scenario presented when Jesus speaks about the Queen of Sheba. In this case, He’s not only talking about a Gentile (heathen), but He’s also speaking about a Gentile woman. And He is portraying her is a positive light in comparison to the attitudes and actions of the current religious leaders.

Let’s review these events and comments in order to grasp the significance of Jesus’ warning to people back then and apply it to our own lives. As we review this story we want to look at the context of the original event in the O.T., the context of the event in the N.T. and finally to make application to our lives today.

I.    The OT story of the Queen and Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9:1-12; 1 Kings 10:1-13.

Sheba – At southern tip of Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) where the current country of Yemen is located. Which means she traveled 1,400-1,500 miles. She probably came on trade mission, but obviously to also find out for herself what she had been told about Solomon.

She presents questions (“riddles”) about all her heart desired to know. Some suggest her questions included such deep questions regarding the meaning of life/death and the wonders of nature.

(v. 3, 6) His wisdom completely astonishes her. See also 2 Chron. 9:22-23 ^(NKJV) So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

She not only gets answers to all the “hard questions,” but she also witnesses first-hand the lavish buildings (palace, and temple), servants, etc. (vv. 3-4). Upon hearing and witnessing what she did, we are told “there was no more spirit in her.” Literally, “breathless.”

She gave him “120 talents of gold…” (Only part of her gifts)

1 talent = 65-75 pounds. 120x70 pounds = 8,400 pounds = 134,400 ounces. Today’s gold value = $1,272/ounce. 134,400 ounces x $1,272 = very near 171 million in gold alone

This was just one trade deal Solomon made. 1 Kings 9 talks about Hiram, the king of Tyre, also sending Solomon 120 talents of gold (8,400 pounds).

3:8-9 describes 600 talents (42,000 pounds) of gold in the holy of holies. ($854.8 million).

9:13 describes 666 talents (46,620 pounds) of gold brought annually to Solomon for tribute (taxes). ($948.8 million)

The queen responds with highest praise, not only for Solomon, but for the Lord God.

2 Chronicles 9:5-8 ^(NKJV) Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."

II.  The NT story of Jesus and the Religious Rulers.

Luke 11:29-32 (NKJV) And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 

Start by going back to v. 16 “Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.”

Compare: Matthew 12:38-42 ^(NKJV) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Luke does not mention the “three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish…” which Matthew mentions. Matthew’s purpose obviously was to tie the “sign” also to the resurrection. Both Matthew and Luke focus on the fact that Jonah’s preaching bore fruit in repentance, so those men will testify and condemn the Jews for their lack of repentance.

The “sign” is the fact that people in the past have repented and worshiped when confronted with the facts of God’s greatness. So, “What excuse do you have?”

(Hard Sayings of the Bible) External signs might have been necessary [in the OT] to convince a heathen Egyptian [like Pharaoh] or an apostate king of Israel [like Ahab], but why should they be necessary for custodians and teachers of the law of the true God? They should have been able to decide without the aid of signs whether Jesus' teaching was true or not, whether it was in line or not with the Law and the Prophets.

The Pharisees mentioned in this incident may have wanted a sign that would compel belief, but can genuine belief ever be compelled? 

It seems that these leaders are asking for Jesus to do something that would force them to abandon their obstinate resistance to His message and ministry. And Jesus is simply saying that the amount of light and knowledge they had already received should have produced genuine repentance in their hearts.

It is notable that Jesus refers to two cases here where Gentiles are depicted as responding favorably. This case with the Queen of Sheba includes the further distinction that she was a woman besides being a Gentile. There were multiple times in the Gospels when Jesus pointed out the greater faith that was found in Gentiles compared to Jews.

“Greater than Solomon” – the word “greater” is not in the masculine form as expected to agree with “Solomon.” 

It is in neuter form: rather than “Someone” greater, but “something” greater; meaning all that Jesus was and did and represented, including the kingdom of God.

The person of Jesus is greater. The message of Jesus is greater. The wealth of Jesus is greater. The wisdom of Jesus is greater. The preaching of Jesus is greater. The sacrifice of Jesus is greater. The grace of Jesus is greater. Everything about Jesus is greater than Solomon, Jonah, and every other biblical or spiritual figure.

III. The Spiritual Application for You and Me.

If the Queen of Sheba says, “WOW” in regards to Solomon, then how much more should we experience the “WOW” when we consider all the things that are true about our Savior, our Redeemer, our Master and our King? Jesus was indicating to the Jews that their response should be greater than Nineveh’s and the Queen of Sheba. And so should ours.

There are people today (and it may include some of us sitting here) who keep seeking and almost demanding that God do something to prove Himself to them (show them a sign) so they can believe in Him and become a dedicated follower. But, as Jesus indicated in his answer to the Jews that day, what has already been done and reported regarding the life and ministry of Jesus is more than enough to satisfy a seeking heart. 

It’s more than enough information to satisfy a longing heart if we will just accept it and trust Him without reservation.

These Jews had lived and seen the miracles and teachings of Jesus, yet they refused to accept Him. 

Conclusion:

Do we recognize how great our God is? Do we recognize how great God’s Son is? Greater than Jonah…  Greater than Solomon…

Will we be embarrassed by the lack of faith, enthusiasm, etc. we have shown regarding the awesome privileges of grace we have available to us?

Will we be embarrassed by how those with lesser privileges and knowledge have responded to God’s grace compared to our response?

Will we be embarrassed by their response to God’s will compared to ours?

Let’s stand together to sing our closing song.

I Know I Love Thee Better, Lord