Proclaiming the Good News of the Empty Cup

Today is Memorial Day and I hope you have extra time to study today. Today's devotional is a little longer than normal, but it is probably one of the most important things we can study as I believe it has the potential to really catch a fire in our hearts and testimonies that can have long reaching affects. I am currently reading a book on the Unquenchable Fire that I downloaded for free to my kindle this weekend. The author goes into a lot more detail than I do here today and so this lesson and Scripture is very, very timely for me today. May it give us a deep passion to share the love of Christ with others especially as we may have opportunities even today around the various gatherings we may be apart of today.

Today's Devotional is from Matthew 26:31–56

“ … 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.”

Observation: It is easy to gloss over and skim over and read the words of the Garden of Gethsemane account, but these words are too important to just skim over. What was happening is important to your salvation and mine.

Stephen Dray points out that Luke was a doctor. In his account of the Garden of Gethsemane, he said that drops of blood from Jesus fell to the ground (Luke 22:44). This is a medical condition that only happens with extreme pain of the emotions and of the mind.

In the book I am currently reading about revival the author suggests that these drops were almost clot-like in nature and his garments would have stained with blood as He knelt down on the ground praying. It says in verse 39 He had his face to the ground.

Picture The Master rising up from prayer, His face is blood stained, tears streaked and there is dirt from the Garden mixed with the blood and tears on his forehead and cheeks. This is not the picture we normally see. My grandmother used to have a picture in her living room of Jesus kneeling by a rock in Gethsemane. The light of the moon is shining on him like a spotlight. He is gazing into heaven, hands cupped together praying in his white garment with a blue sash, but Scripture paints a very different picture. That white garment, if he indeed was wearing white, would have been bloodied. He was sweating not only drops of blood, but perspiration, and he probably not only looked wounded, but smelled of blood and sweat and dirt.

Why? Why was He in such anguish? Was it because His disciples were sleeping? No. Was it because He knew He was about to die on the cross? No. He was in anguish because of the Cup of Wrath that was about to be poured out on Him.

Paul and many others describe being beaten and thrown into prisons and suffering many of the same things that Jesus was about to face. Paul and others described these things as “light and momentary afflictions”. Jesus was not in anguish over what was about to take place physically. He was in anguish because the Father was showing Him The Cup of Wrath that He was about to “drink” or that was going to be poured out on Him.

What is in this “cup”? Jesus asked earlier in Matthew 20 this question, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” (Matthew 20:22) Stephen Lee from Desiring God says this, “Greatness in the kingdom of God is obtained along the path of love — the path of sacrifice, service, and suffering.” He goes on to say, “The people of Jesus are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus — who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

To get a fuller picture of The Cup you need to read from Jeremiah 25:15, Isaiah 51:17, Psalm 11:6-7, Psalm 21:9, Psalm 75:8 and Revelation 14:9-10. Revelation gives the fullest picture I think when it describes The Cup as, “poured full strength into the cup of his anger”. Can you imagine even having to drink the tiniest of cups of God’s full strength of anger? But for three long hours Jesus hung on that cross while all of God’s anger from the beginning of time until the end were poured out on Christ (Romans 2:5). This is what Jesus got a glimpse of in the Garden. He looked inside of that Cup and saw all of the sin and the wrath and judgment of God and in that moment Jesus had to decide, “Will I go through with this or not?” It was so painful for Him that He wept and sweat great drops of blood and he cried out in LOUD cries (Hebrews 5:7-8).

I’ve given birth to three children. The second one came so fast there was no time for an epidural. I writhed in pain, twisting and turning in the bed. I wanted the baby out because I knew when she was fully delivered the cramping of the contractions would end and my “light and momentary troubles” would be over. This is NOTHING compared to what Jesus experienced. Some people have said that giving birth is like feeling the pain of 20 bones breaking at the same time, but even this is so pale in comparison to what Christ experienced for us even though it is some of the hardest pain I have ever personally experienced. Some of you have experienced mental anguish over a loss or a really hard trial, but again this is still very pale in comparison to the mental battle Jesus faced in the Garden that night. When the Scripture says He can relate to our trials, surely He can! (Psalm 56:6, Hebrews 2:18)

There, at Golgotha, our Savior drained God’s cup of burning anger down to the dregs. God poured out his wrath, full strength, undiluted, onto his Son. Paul summarizes the meaning of this great event, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21), but in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus caught a glimpse of that Cup and this is what made that night such a time of prayer and anguish. Matthew describes Jesus as “sorrowful and deeply distressed” (v. 37) and verse 38 tells us He was almost at the point of death. Have you ever been this close to the point of death?

Application: Where is the Good News in all of this “bloody mess”? Andrew Hebert of Christian Living writes this, “Ultimately, the Jews didn’t put Jesus on the cross. Nor did the Romans. Nor did you and me. As the prophet Isaiah tells us, “It pleased the LORD to crush him” (Isa. 53:10). God put his own Son on the cross. If you are united to Christ by faith, God has no wrath left for you. As Paul declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Jesus drained the cup of condemnation for us. We have life because Jesus drank death.

Whenever you feel abandoned by God, therefore, you can know it’s just a feeling. Your Savior was abandoned on the cross so that you would never have to be. Your acceptance before God isn’t based on your performance but on Christ’s. If you feel guilty because you haven’t “done enough for God,” Christ has come to lift that burden. The gospel isn’t about how much you do for God but about how much God has done for you. This should elicit deep thankfulness for and joy in what God has accomplished for us.”

In the comments below, write one thing that you learned today about The Cup. This isn’t a message that I’ve heard talked about a lot, but it is one I think we would do well to study more and to reflect on more. I think it might take the average, mediocre Christian and bring him/her to a more passionate Christian that speaks of and spreads the gospel like wildfire.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for glossing over or not taking enough time to meditate on “the cup of wrath”. I thank You for helping me to get a fuller and deeper understanding of this cup. We focus a lot on the cross where the work was done, but I haven’t heard a lot of people talking about the message of the cup of wrath that You took and drank for us. I pray we would take this message seriously and teach it to others around us. Even today let us talk about it to those we may be gathered with today, both those who know you and those who don’t. Bring revival through this message. Our world needs Your revival today! May our hearts catch the fire of Your Great Love that drank this awful cup for us. Seer it in our minds and hearts so that the fire would never ever burn out. Through Christ, the One who drank the cup for me, I pray, Amen & Amen.

Who is Jesus

 

Read:  Psalm 27 and Mark 1

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.  When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”  Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:3, 8 and 14

 

O:  Introduction to Mark:  Mark was written about 65-70 AD.  By this time at least four of the disciples had died, three of martyrs deaths and one of unknown causes.  By now the Jerusalem Council had met to discuss how much of the law the Gentiles were to keep and most, if not all, of the other Epistles of Paul have now been written and copies were being distributed among the churches.  Mark was most likely the last of the Gospels to be penned and actually one of the last among the final eight books of the New Testament to be written.  The focus or theme of the book is “Jesus the Redeemer”.

 

In today’s reading of Mark the writer jumps right in with the baptism of Jesus and the many healings of Jesus and skips the whole first 30 years of His life.  This chapter shows us really who Jesus was.  He was compassionate, He spoke and acted with Authority and even the evil spirits saw something different in the Spirit of Jesus proclaiming Him to be “the Holy One of God” (vs. 24).  The news about Jesus was spreading so fast that He could not get into the cities according to Mark, but had to remain outside of the cities to preach and teach and the people had to come to Him.

 

A:  This question was raised in my Christian Doctrine class this week and I pose it to you, who do you think Jesus was?  Was He just a “good man” as many people believe?  Was He diety?  After reading Mark 1 who do you think He was?  Does it take courage to believe in Jesus in this day and age?  Comment below …

 

P:  Our Father, who art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name.  Your Kingdom come!  Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for all eternity.  Baruch Hashem Adonai.  Blessed is the One Who comes in the Name of the LORD!  Amen & Amen.

Fearing the Unknown

 

Read:  Leviticus 25:17-19; Psalm 25; and Acts 22

 

“We fear what we do not know.” ~ Unknown

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.  Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.  Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.  Psalms 25:17-20

 

O:  I imagine the above Scripture passage was a prayer Paul might have prayed often.  The Psalms are a great prayer prompter for the things we are facing in our lives!

 

As I read through the Leviticus passage I was impressed with the fact that God’s got a plan and He has it all under control!  (See Leviticus 25:17-19)  All we have to do is follow His plan!

 

A man by the name of Dan Brown writes in The Lost Symbol this quote, "What we don't understand, we fear. What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control. And what we cannot control...we attack." UNKNOWN

 

I think that quote sums up Paul’s life after his conversion.  The religious Jewish leaders did not understand Paul’s conversion.  They were fearful of him and what he was teaching.  They judged him harshly and as “not religious” and therefore evil.  When he tried to explain and give his testimony they listened up to the point he began telling them about the Gentiles; then they began to attack him.  Their prejudices and jealousy kept them from understanding and it kept them bound to fear.

 

When we deal with people who do not understand our conversion stories do not be surprised when instead of being received we are attacked.  Partly it is from a lack of understanding and fear on their part and partly from reading Psalm 25 I think it is because the enemy of God uses people to afflict us and to tear us down, not because of you and I, but because of the One who lives in us. 

 

The enemy was doing everything in his weak power to thwart the message of Paul, but time and time again God won through Paul and used him mightily to further His Kingdom.  We must do as Psalm 25 says and WAIT ON THE LORD!  We must be patient.  God is at work and He does have everything in control and HE HAS A PLAN!

 

A:  Wait on the LORD.  Walk in the ways He shows me and to trust in Him.

 

P:  To You O LORD do I lift up my soul.  It is in You God that I trust.  Do not let me be ashamed or let the enemy exult himself over me.  LORD I pray for good understanding.  I pray that You would teach me Your ways and truth.  Thank you for being my Salvation!  I will wait on You all the days of my life.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

Angels and Answered Prayers

 

Read Exodus 40:34-38; Psalms 15; and Acts 12

 

S.O.A.P.

 

S:  “And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands.” (Acts 12:7)

 

O:  A lot happens in this chapter of Acts; James the brother of John is killed, Peter was rescued from Herod, Herod is struck down and Paul and Barnabas return with John Mark from their first missionary journey, but what mostly caught my attention was the story of Peter. 

 

One of the first things I notice is Peter was sleeping.  This probably catches my eye because I do not always sleep well, but when I do I can really get into a DEEP sleep.  About fifteen years ago I was a volunteer firefighter and EMT.  I loved everything about that job and I did not even mind getting woken up in the night to go and help someone in need.  But one night I had my radio beside my bed and my husband tells me that it went off and I did not hear the radio and the alert.  He was down the hall in the office and came and apparently woke me up and told me about the call.  I said ok and apparently laid back down and went back to sleep.  The next morning when he conveyed all of this to me I did not remember a thing. 

 

Now that I’m older and have children I do not unfortunately sleep quite as deeply!  But back to Peter …   

 

Peter wasn’t up thinking about his problems or worrying about his court date that was about to take place in the morning.  He certainly could have been.  One of his best friends, James, had been killed and Peter was probably about to join him.  James and Peter and John had been apart of the inner-inner circle with Jesus.  They were the ones who got to go up and see the transfiguration.  They were the ones closest to him in the garden praying before the crucifixion.

 

But Peter was not worried, he was sleeping so soundly and so deeply (even with the bright light of the angel right beside Peter) that the angel had to “smack” him on the side (in his ribs) to get him up.  The verse in the KJV says after he smote him that the angel “raised him up”. 

 

Even after all of this Peter still thought he was just dreaming (vs 9).

 

Finally after passing all the guards and the city gates the angel leaves Peter and Peter for the first time realizes what has been done for him and he proceeds to John Mark’s mother’s house where a group was assembled in the night keeping vigil and praying for Peter.  So Peter knocks and the girl who comes to the door is so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she doesn’t even open the door, she runs back to the group and tells them that Peter is here on the porch, but they didn’t believe her.  I do not know if any of you have kids (or animals) that do this, but when the doorbell rings in our house my kids (and dogs) go crazy.  The kids start jumping up and down screaming names of people they think are at the door; they just get excited!  I imagine Rhoda did the same.  She heard the knock and got close enough to the door to hear Peter and began jumping up and down, “Peter’s here, Peter’s here!”

 

Why is it when we pray, even in full faith, that when the answer comes that we still doubt that it could be possible?  Acts says Rhoda kept persisting until they finally open the door and saw Peter with their own eyes and verse 16 says they were AMAZED.  That word in Greek is “existemi” which means they were caught off guard, thrown into wonderment, astounded, beside one’s self or literally “out of (ex) standing (histemi)”. 

 

Does the way God answer your prayers ever just “knock you off your feet”?  There are times I catch myself in the middle of something happening and I realize that this was something I prayed for and just am amazed!

 

A:  Think back over times when God has answered some of your very specific prayers and thank Him for that and be amazed at God all over again!  Then continue in prayer for the things you are still seeking Him for.

 

P:  Lord, the song, “I stand, I stand in awe of You, Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You!” comes to mind this morning as I think about Peter and Rhoda and John Mark’s mother and the others that you just blew away with the way You heard and answered their prayers that night while Peter was sleeping soundly in the prison.  God I pray we too would be knocked off our feet by the way You hear and answer our prayers.  I am also reminded again how important it is to keep those night watches and stand in the gap for others, others who may not have any idea you are praying for them, but then who knows what our prayers can do for another person.  Keep us as Psalms 15 says clean and walking rightly with You so that as we follow Your direction that we can be used as vessels in accordance with what You are doing and as we pray in accordance with Your will we can know that our prayers will be answered.  Thank you LORD for hearing and answering us.  In Your Mighty Name and through Christ we pray Amen & Amen.

The Spoken and Unspoken Message

 

Read Ps. 19 and Acts 11

S.O.A.P.

 

 

S:  Psalm 19 is so poetic!  I especially love verses 3 and 4 speaking of the stars and the sunrise and sunset: 

 

“Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.”

 

And then speaking of God’s Word the Psalmist pens these words in verses 7-9:

 

“The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.”

The Message

 

I also like how plainly The Message reads verse 12, “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!  Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work …”

 

Peter puts it this way in Acts 11:17, “who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?”  Words like these quieted people up in a hurry! (vs 18)

 

O:  As I read the accounts in Acts 11 I am reminded of my New Testament Survey Class I took this past semester.  Acts is like a history book of the early church.  What is cool about it is you can take each epistle that was written and sort of place it into the book of Acts.  Acts 11 takes place in about 43 AD at about the same time the Book of Matthew was written.  As we get into the next few chapters we will begin to see Paul’s missionary journeys.  The letters of Paul fit right into the book of Acts written by Luke from this point forward. 

 

Matthew	40-55 AD
James	45 AD
Galatians	48-49 AD

 

Much of Galatians ties into Acts 11.  The revelation mentioned (Gal 2:2) corresponds with the prophecy of Agabus in verse 27-28.  Paul exhortation to remember the poor (Gal. 2: 10) fits with the purpose of the Acts 11.  When studying this last semester I found this all to be very insightful and it helped me to get a better view of the Bible as a whole and the living history of the early church. 

 

A:  The application for me today is first to thank Him for his handiwork that we see day in and day out.  Take special notice of the skies and how their “unspoken truth” is everywhere.  Not to worship the creation, but the Creator who make all of those beautiful things and keeps it running day in and day out.  Secondly as we said yesterday to share with others the message of salvation and to encourage present day believers as well.

 

P:  LORD, I thank you Father for the many, many ways that You reveal Yourself to us in nature.  We often see some magnificent displays of Your creativity and beauty.  Help us to take special note of these things and to look to You with more and more adoration.  Now according to Acts 11 I pray that Your presence would be with us in such power,  that many would hear the message of Your WORD and believe and surrender their lives to You.  Help us to encourage those who already believe to remain faithful and devoted to You, Lord.  Control us by Your Holy Spirit and fill us to capacity with faith and Your power.  In the words of the Psalmist I pray, “These are the words in my mouth.  Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.”  Amen & Amen.