He drank...my cup.
for awhile now i've realized that i so often become almost callous to the cross - Jesus's death. growing up in a Christian family, going to church all my life - i've heard about the cross my entire life. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. John 3:16. great. killer. sometimes it would evoke emotion within me. other times i'd read Scripture that talked about Christ's sacrifice and i'd read it just like it was any other passage in the Bible. not really contemplating the depth of it.
and i hate that i become callous to the magnitude of it so easily.
i came across a book nearly a year ago while shopping online with a B&N giftcard. the book is called "Living the Cross Centered Life - Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing" by C.J. Mahaney. i had read his book called "Humility" and loved it, so i bought this book. i didn't start reading it though until about a month ago.
the Truth this book talks about is overwhelming. so much more than any of my blogs could ever cover.
i just finished a chapter last night about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. if i could copy and paste the whole chapter here, i would. i was wide awake when i finished the chapter but was so overwhelmed by God's love for me displayed on that cross thru His Son Jesus Christ that i couldn't read on yet.
"In the mystery of His mercy, God - the innocent, offended party - offers up His own Son to death, to satisfy His righteous wrath and save the guilty party from it." - pg. 70
To satisfy His righteous wrath...His "righteous wrath" alone deserves so much thought about what that means. but i will try to stay on topic and not ramble. As Jesus is praying to His Father, He asks if there's any way for the cup to be removed.
"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39
Jesus prayed this at least twice that night in the garden. He was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" - Matt. 26:38. Why was He overwhelmed? because He was about to drink of this cup - this cup of God's righteous wrath against the sin of all mankind. He was about to experience total abandonment from His Father. Jesus was about to become "the object of God's full and furious wrath" (pg. 80). for me. for you. for all of mankind.
"As we watch Jesus pray in agony in Gethsemane, He has every right to turn His tearful eyes toward you and me and shout, 'This is your cup. You're responsible for this. It's your sin! You drink it.' This cup should rightfully be thrust into my hand and yours." (pg. 82)
but He doesn't. no...He drinks the cup - the cup intended for me.
God loves me...you...so much that He was willing to let His innocent, perfect Son, Jesus Christ, come to earth to be the perfect, final sacrifice for the sin of all mankind.
He drank my cup...
2 comments:
Great post - I know, I hate when I read passages of the Bible like that and not realize what I just read. Sometimes I wish I could go back and erase all my "Bible knowledge" and read it fresh...have a fresh, brand new perspective on it and see how it pricks my heart. Sounds like a good book!
Okay, this is going to sound so strange. I was yelling to Ace to "get back here" so I could put some socks on her. I was explaining to her that the floor was cold and that she should wear socks to protect her feet... and from left field I started thinking about how Jesus probably didn't have shoes on when he lugged that big ol' cross through the streets. For today that's what makes me say, thank you Jesus for suffering for me.
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