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THE PASSION CUP
TUESDAY, MARCH 15
Mark 14:32-42

Hebrews 4:14-16

 

“…take away this cup from me…”

 

THE PASSION CUP
 
Gethsemane (meaning “oil press”) was an olive tree garden beyond the Kidron Valley, East of Jerusalem, near the Mount of Olives. The “oil press” garden filled with the twisted branches typical of olive trees vividly portrays the intense agony that Jesus went through as He thought of “this cup” which is the cup of His passion (i.e. the pain, suffering, and death Jesus had to go through on the cross). The agony Jesus went through was so great that He perspired drops of blood. Despite the agony, Jesus was determined to obey His Father’s will to go to the cross. Hebrews 5:7-9 makes it clear, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”
 
Some think it contradictory that Jesus should pray that the cup of the cross would pass from Him since He had already made up His mind to drink it (John 18:11). How could the Son of God be so scared of death? Here is Calvin’s answer, “Those who pretend the Son of God was immune from human passions do not truly and seriously acknowledge Him as a man. When the divine power of Christ is said to have reposed as it were in concealment for a time … to allow Him to fulfil the Redeemer’s role of suffering, this is so far from being an absurdity, that the mystery of our salvation could not have been fulfilled otherwise.”
 
Did the Father answer the Son’s prayer? Indeed He did. His Son’s prayer was answered because He prayed obediently, “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36), “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). “[T]he cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). Jesus subjected His human will to the divine will which was His will as well, being God Himself. His prayer that the Father’s will be done was answered (Heb 5:7).
 
THOUGHT: Our Father in heaven knows best. Do as He says and wills.
PRAYER: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:9,10)

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