The night he was betrayed and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went to a quiet place to pray:
“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” – Luke 22:41-42
Jesus’ prayer was also recorded in Matthew and Mark:
“Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” – Mat 26:42
“And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. “And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”” – Mar 14:35-36
In the gospel of John, again in the Garden, Jesus again mentions the cup, after Peter cut off the ear of one of the soldiers:
“So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” – John 18:11
I am quite sure Jesus knew what was contained in the cup, but do we? Was it the series of trials and beatings to come? Was it his death on the Cross? Or was more than that?
That is the question left to you this Thursday morning, 2010. What was in the cup?
The Battle Cry 
A friend commented on the Facebook shared post from here:
“I think the cup was the suffering he faced plus the knowledge that the sin He would bear for us would separate Him from the Father — even if just for a moment and not for eternity. That moment had to have been devastating.
The Father is Jesus’ first love and true hell is separation from Him. Jesus, we know, overcame death and hell because He bore our sin, but He was sinless. He took the wrath of God for us, but He did not deserve it.”
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:1
Claire is exactly right. the Father poured out His holy cup of wrath on His own Son, for the sins of those he redeemed. Somebody sinless had to die for the sinful!
Amazing Grace!
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