PODCAST
Drinking The Bitter Cup
March 22nd, 2017
John 18:1-14
During Jesus’ arrest, Peter tried to defend Christ by cutting off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. However, Jesus would not allow any mortal protection; there would be no fighting from His disciples because Jesus had to drink the cup the Father had given Him.
While praying earlier in Gethsemane, Jesus had asked God if it was possible to take the cup away: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). There was no other way. This was His cup to drink.
The ingredients of this cup were sorrow, agony, and suffering. This was the cost of our salvation, and Jesus was the only one who could drink from this cup.
Jesus went through with all the suffering and agony of the following few days because of the joy our redemption would bring Him. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross” (12:2). Our redemption is His joy!
Author: Ann Hallyburton
