What does "drink the cup I am going to drink" symbolize for believers? Setting the Scene Matthew 20:22: “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered. What the “Cup” Signified for Jesus - Suffering leading up to and including the cross (Matthew 26:39; John 18:11) - Bearing God’s righteous wrath against sin (Isaiah 51:17; implied in Jesus’ agony) - The outpouring of His blood to establish the new covenant (Luke 22:20) Layers of Meaning for Believers 1. Shared Suffering • Philippians 1:29—granted “to suffer for Him” • 1 Peter 4:13—“you share in the sufferings of Christ” 2. Willing Submission to God’s Will • Matthew 26:39—“Yet not as I will, but as You will” becomes our posture 3. Identification With Christ • Romans 8:17—co-heirs “if indeed we suffer with Him” • 1 Corinthians 10:16—“cup of blessing” = participation in Christ’s blood 4. Costly Discipleship • 2 Timothy 3:12—godly living invites persecution • Mark 8:34—taking up our cross daily 5. Deliverance From Wrath Into Salvation • Jesus drained the wrath-cup; believers now lift “the cup of salvation” (Psalm 116:13) How Believers “Drink” the Cup Today - Enduring ridicule, opposition, or loss for confessing Christ - Serving others sacrificially, even when unnoticed or hard - Choosing obedience over comfort, entertainment, or career advancement - Standing for biblical truth in a culture that resists it - Remaining faithful under illness, hardship, or persecution, trusting God’s purposes Living It Out • Remember the privilege: Christ’s finished work secures salvation; our suffering is fellowship, not payment. • Keep an eternal perspective: present trials are “light and momentary” compared with coming glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). • Draw strength from the Lord’s Table: every Communion reaffirms participation in His blood and the hope of His return (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Encourage one another: believers are never meant to drink the cup alone—mutual support is part of God’s design. |
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