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Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:-6

 

Christ's Cup of Grief

 

Intro.

1.  Cup: Container, by metonymy, its contents; figuratively as "a figure of speech to represent one's portion of or participation in something." [1]

2.  Jesus used "cup" to describe the grief and pain He experienced while accomplishing the Father's plan of human redemption, cf. Matt. 20:22-23.

3.  Jesus was completely willing to "drink" the cup the Father gave Him, Jno. 18:10-11.

4.  The cup of grief borne by the Man of sorrows for our salvation.

 

I.  THE CUP OF GRIEF OVER A FAITHLESS NATION.

  A.  Christ was Grieved that Jerusalem Rejected Him, Matt. 23:36-39.

    1.  Divine sorrow over Israel's disobedience, Rom. 10:21 (Isa. 65:2).

    2.  Divine anger mingled with sorrow, Isa. 65:3; Ezek. 18:32; cf. Lam. 3:31-33.

  B.  Divine Judgment brought Grief, Luke 23:26-31.

  C.  The Gospel Replaces Sorrow with Joy, Jno. 16:21-22, 33; Rev. 21:4.

      -God's grief and anger over sin prompts judgment but also provides redemption's joy, Psa. 30:5 (God's heart toward Ephraim, Jer. 31:20).

 

II.  THE CUP OF GRIEF OVER FALTERING APOSTLES, cf. Matt. 17:16-17.

  A.  Overconfident Apostles, Matt. 26:31-35, 40-41 (Lk. 22:45).

    1.  Sin grieves God, Eph. 4:29-30.

    2.  God is grieved when Christians falter in faith, Heb. 6:6; 10:29.

  B.  Humble Endurance Pleases Christ, Phil. 3:12-16.

 

III. THE CUP OF GRIEF OVER THE CROSS, Matt. 20:22; Mk. 14:36.            

  A.  The Cup of Humiliation, Acts 8:32-33 (Isa. 53:7-8).

    1.  The complete submission of Jesus to the Father's will meant humbling Himself to humiliating treatment by lawless men, Phil. 2:8; Isa. 50:6; Mk. 14:65; Lk. 23:11; Jno. 19:1-3, 10-11.

    2.  Jesus set an example of not being overwhelmed by sorrow, but patiently drinking the cup of humiliation for doing good, 1 Pet. 2:20-22; 3:13-14.

  B.  The Cup of Pain and Death, Luke 22:42-46.

    1.  Scourging, Matt. 27:26.

    2.  Mockery and beating from Roman soldiers, Matt. 27:27-31.

    3.  Crucifixion, Matt. 27:35. "Slow death with maximum pain and suffering".

    4.  Darkness of the cross, Matt. 27:45-46 (Jno. 16:32).

    5.  Death, Luke 23:44-46.

      a.  The incredible way in which Jesus "drank" this cup: He "despised" the shame (held it in contempt, looked down on), Heb. 12:2.

      b.  No greater love, Jno. 15:13; Rom. 5:8.

 

Conclusion

1.  Know "the fellowship of His sufferings" and be "conformed to His death", Phil. 3:10 (7-12). The full submission and surrender of self to Christ.

2.  Jesus: The Man of Sorrows so we might have joy. In this world we will have tribulation, but we take courage because Christ has overcome the world! Jno. 16:33


 

[1] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House

 

 

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: June 19, 2014