As we enter into Easter weekend I am reminded of a sermon I heard at the start of my journey. It was through this sermon I began to realize who my Savior is. I knew of Jesus, but didn’t know Him on a personal relatable level to me.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. Luke 22:39-47
Three times Jesus prayed for “this cup” to be removed from him if it be the will of His Father.
What was in the cup that Jesus agonized over? It wasn’t the physical death that Jesus shrank from. Was it him knowing Judas would betray him? Was is the disappointment in knowing the disciples would run and hide? What was Jesus dreading as he prayed that night in the garden? What was in that cup?
In that small cup was the pollution of sin. Our sins had to be paid for. Not just the current sin, but the past sins and future sins of each and everybody that had walked, was walking, and will walk on this earth. All sin past, present and future had to be paid for.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus did not sin, but he became sin. He drank the bitterness and polluted liquid in that cup. When Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world, he received God’s full wrath. He became separated from his Heavenly Father.
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 52:10
Jesus suffered an eternity in hell for a moment. Jesus consumed all of the polluted contents of that cup. All of the bitter hatefulness of the world was in that cup and he drank it because of his divine love. He never had to be compelled or asked to drink that cup. It was his divine love that drank the contents and to lay his life down to die for all of the past, present and future people that would walk on this earth.
He knew the will of his Heavenly Father. Jesus said it is not my will be done but your will to be done. God will never overlook sin in our lives. All sin is punished. This cup, has become a cup of our redemption. Because Jesus took my sin, I take his redemption. The victory of our lives came from the victory in that garden.
In that cup were all of my sins from yesterday, today and tomorrow. Stop and think about that for a minute. All of my sins and your sins are in that cup. That cup is not a license to do what I want, how I want, when I want and to ask for forgiveness later. That cup is the redemption that bridges the distance between me and my Heavenly Father. That cup is not a free pass to sin as I please and get forgiveness later. That cup is what opens the door to freedom and victory.
That cup is what gives us sight, through Christ to see and hear from our Heavenly Father. Having thought about it over a few days I began to realize that my life is not my own. My life is not governed by emotions and personal desires. My life is owed to my Savior. My life is to be given back to him to serve my Heavenly Father’s purpose and will. MY heart is to be his heart. My mind is to be his mind. My body is to be his body. My mouth is to be his mouth. My talents, time, and trade is to be his. I don’t own any part of my life. My choices are to be his choices.
It was in this moment I realized that I needed to give everything I had back to him. What he had given me was his. I needed a complete heart transplant. My thoughts were filthy. My desires were selfish. My direction and purpose were of my own. I didn’t want that life anymore. I didn’t want to stumble in the darkness. I didn’t want to freely take advantage of the goodness and faithfulness of my Heavenly Father. I didn’t want to sin casually thinking I could casually later on ask for forgiveness.
No, that day I decided to take those death clothes off and put on righteousness. To take a stand against the world and stand on heaven’s side, no matter the cost. Something started to change inside of me. God’s commandments started to become a standard. I started to truly hate evil and all its ways. The old thoughts and ways of doing things felt like nails on a chalk board. I was finally ready to start living in righteousness and quit the insanity of doing the same old things expecting something to change.
This helped me to start looking at the root problems in my life that had led me to the place I am today.
It Starts Small 
Leave a comment