Good Tuesday Morning! This morning we will dwell in Mark 14:32-42. Jesus and his disciples are in Gethsemane. Peter, James, and John, the three disciples who He invested in more deeply went with Jesus to be with Him as He prayed.
The text tells us that He was greatly distressed and troubled. “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” What did this look like? What was He saying? What was He praying? What was He seeing? Was He afraid of the cross? Of the physical pain that was about to come upon Him? The cross was a humiliating and brutal way to die. Was this why He was so greatly distressed and troubled?
I’m sure that He was not looking forward to the cross. But I don’t think this is what was causing distress that caused Him to sweat drops of blood! I think we find the answer to this question in the words of Jesus’ prayer: “ABBA, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.” What is He talking about? What is this cup?
In order for us to understand what is happening here, we need to understand what the cup is that Jesus is asking to be removed from Him. It is the cup of the wrath of God. We don’t often talk about the wrath of God. Very few preachers teach on the wrath of God. But the wrath of God is talked about often throughout Scripture. God’s wrath is not a temper tantrum, an outburst of anger that is out of control. God is a holy, righteous and just God. And in His wrath He hates all that is unrighteous. And His wrath, the opposite of His blessing, is divine justice on sinful people.
I want you to see what the Scripture says about the cup of God’s wrath. I encourage you to spend some time looking up and meditating on each of these passages listed. Journal what you learn about the wrath of God from each passage: Psalm 11:6, 60:3, Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Obadiah 16; Revelation 14:9-11.
Now, head back to the garden and look again at Jesus. Listen to His cries. “ABBA, Father, Let this cup pass from me.” This is the cup that Jesus is talking about. This is why He is distressed. It’s not the physical suffering of the cross. It’s not His death. He is about to drink on our behalf the cup of the wrath of God that WE ought to drink. That we deserve to drink.
The wrath of God is His divine justice poured out on unrighteous sinners. And in this moment, Jesus is seeing His Father’s divine wrath being poured out on Him.
But His next words catch us off guard. In the face of God’s divine wrath, He says, “Yet, not my will but yours be done.” Let this sink deeply into your hearts. In the horror of what is about to happen, Jesus goes willingly and obediently picks up the cup and drinks it down to the dregs. For us! Behold the Lamb of God who takes away OUR sin!
Oh what a Savior! Isn’t He wonderful?
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