The Cup of Christ

Mark 10:35-39
35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
38. "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
39. "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.

What is this cup?!! These disciples did not know what they were asking. They saw life with Jesus filled only with miracles and material prosperity, power and prestige, a change to rule with a mighty King over their enemies. Little did they know that the cup Jesus was going to ask them to drink would mean loving their enemies and bringing the gospel to people they had learned to hate! This cup meant martydom, discipline, struggle, and sacrifice. It also meant wisdom, strength and power.

To drink this cup simply means to follow Christ wherever he may lead, and to be like him in any situation life may bring.

1. This cup represented a promise!!

Matthew 26:26-30 and 36-41
26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you."
28. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
29. "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
30. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

2. This cup meant suffering!!

Matthew 26:36-41
36. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he
asked Peter.
41. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

3. This cup is for us to drink!!

1 Corinthians 10:16-17
16. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
17. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

4. This cup requires an examination!!

1 Corinthians 11:27-29
27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drings judgment on himself.