Sunday, March 17, 2024 AM
BECAUSE HE LIVES: The Cup and The Cross
Mike Teel, Pastor
Focal Passages:
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave 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 from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 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. “Couldn’t you men 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 flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. —Matthew 26:26-29, 36-45
This morning, I want you to see …
THE
OF THE CUP
1. JESUS
OF THE CUP
–When did Jesus completely understand the fullness of the “cup of suffering?”
–As Jesus drew closer to the cross, He spent more time discussing and talking about the cup of suffering that was in His future.
2. THE CONTINUAL
OF THE CUP IN JESUS’ MINISTRY
A. JAMES’ AND JOHN’S DESIRE
–They wanted to be appointed to places of honor in the kingdom of God.
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, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” —Mark 10:35-40
B. NOTICE THE THEME OF THE CUP AT THE LAST SUPPER
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave 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. —Matthew 26:27-28
C. THE GARDEN EXPERIENCE
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. “Couldn’t you men 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 flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. —Matthew 26:36-45
–Notice how we see the human side of Jesus.
–The warfare was incredible.
THE
OF THE CUP
1. THE CUP OF SUFFERING AND PHYSICAL ABUSE
–Flogging:
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
—John 19:1
–Mocking:
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. —Matthew 27:27-31
–Crucifixion: lead away to be crucified
–Nailed: to the cross
2. THE CUP OF SPIRITUAL SUFFERING
–The innocent Lamb of God became the final and complete sacrifice for all sin.
–Remember how the priest would lay their hands on the head of the sacrificial animal confessing theirs or the sins of the Jewish community.
–Just as God was about to lay our sins on Jesus.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)
THE CUP
1. ONE LAST STATEMENT FROM THE CROSS
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. —John 19:28-30
2. LAST THOUGHTS
–Our sins had separated Jesus from His Heavenly Father just as before our sins had separated us from God.
–The penalty, the cost of sin – “death’s penalty” was about to be paid: Tetelesti
3. What does all this mean to us when we come together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
–Jesus gave His self physically for us – the broken body.
–He paid the price of sin (death) by shedding His blood for us.
LIVE IT OUT
- Have you allowed Jesus to become the Savior of your life?
- What do you need Jesus to cleanse you of today?