GOOD FRIDAY 2013: The CUP, the CROSS, and the KINGDOM
Luke 22:14-23, Matt.27:32-43
About this time of year around 2000 years ago, the greatest event in the history of World took place in a country that was just a minute part of one of the greatest WORLD empires. This greatest event had been planned by the Almighty CREATOR of the universe BEFORE the universe was even here, and was accomplished outside the gates of Jerusalem. There, Jesus, the exact representation of the radiance of God, was nailed to a cross, and lifted up, so that everyone who would be drawn to Him, would KNOW the saving grace and power of an extravagant Heavenly Father’s Love. Today we remember that LOVE in Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
1 Song: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us:
The night before Jesus died, He had called His disciples together in an upper room in Jerusalem in order to celebrate His last Passover meal.
Luke 22:14 tells us: 14 When the hour had come, (at the appointed time by God) He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Jesus KNEW what was coming: He would become the paschal Lamb); 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (filled to the top, like filling a cup. What Jesus will be doing will be FINALLY filling the cup of PROMISE to be the sacrifice for sin.) 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves ;18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as we think about why you suffered, and what you suffered, and for whom you suffered, and we are in awe of your great love: “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you should visit him, let alone DIE for him!” We humbly give you THANKS for this physical bread which is a symbol for us of your obedience, of your selfless love, in that you purposed and ALLOWED YOUR BODY TO BE BROKEN for us.
THE BREAD: In faith and in obedience, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We celebrate this COMMUNION; the sharing of this broken bread is a reminder AND A PROFESSION that the Lord Jesus’ Body was broken so that we might be made whole. Paul said in 1 Cor. 10:16: “Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” When you partake of this bread, you are declaring publically that you identify with Christ’s body being broken for you, that Jesus has done this for you.
2. Song: Communion Hymn:
Luke 22: 20 “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
The Cup
So many times Christians like to reduce the elements of the Bible to the simplest of forms. I think that in our selfish and sinful hearts, the reason we do that is that we just want to know, “What’s in it for me?” When we partake of communion, that question is certainly answered for us: FORGIVENESS of sin. But I want you realize the drastic importance of what Jesus was saying when HE held up this cup?
The cup represents SO MANY teachings in scripture, but most often, THE CUP symbolizes God’s frightening and awesome wrath upon His wayward people and upon a world in general that rejects Him, upon sin and disobedience. The Cup is foundational to the Kingdom, because Christ’s LIFE blood is payment for sin for you to enter His Kingdom.
(Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Zechariah, Revelation 14, 16, 17 and 18 all speak of the Cup of God’s Wrath.)
Let me give you a few verses: Psalm 11:6 says: ”Upon the wicked He will rain snares ; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.” Psalm 75:8 says:” For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams ; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this ; Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. Jeremiah 25:15: “For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, says to me, "Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.”
In Revelation 14:9-11 we read: "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (That is, if you serve satan with your mind and heart instead of loving the Lord God with your heart, soul mind, and your life) 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in FULL STRENGTH in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.” So we have the SEVERE and FIRM warning displayed in the Old and New Testament of God’s Wrath against sin and satan, and all who follow him.
When Jesus lifted HIS cup in Luke 22:20, it was the third cup of the Passover meal, the Cup of Redemption or Salvation. It was the cup that commemorates and declares the Shedding of Innocent Blood for sin. This was not a new idea for the practicing Jews who had been schooled in the Old Testament. God first shed the blood of innocent animals in the Garden of Eden in order to provide a covering for sin for Adam and Eve.
ABEL offered the first fruit from his flock by the shedding of its innocent blood. Abel was declaring the appropriate acceptable sacrifice of innocent blood while Cain’s offering of grain was unacceptable: Cain’s response was to kill his innocent brother and Gen. 4:10 says: ”The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.” Abel’s innocent blood would continue to cry out until the King of Glory, the Lord Jesus would shed HIS OWN innocent blood so that those who believe in His Sacrifice might enter His Kingdom. Our Lord Jesus chooses to lay down His life and shed His innocent blood.
The history of the Old Testament and of God’s instructions concerning the shedding of innocent blood as an atonement for sin, all point to this EVENT in History, where GOD, HIMSELF, WOULD PROVIDE the LAMB. Jesus provides SALVATION by His OWN SHED BLOOD. As JESUS holds up the cup, He says: “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Jesus is about to offer HIMSELF as the ransom. The fulfillment of thousands of years of Old Testament shadows and prophecies depends on Jesus drinking, not only this cup of wine NOW, but in the next few hours, He would have to drink of God’s awful Wrath in order to satisfy God’s Justice for man’s sin. The raised CUP is pivotal and absolutely ESSENTIAL in order to save you and me and fulfill God’s promise to provide an innocent and perfect sacrifice for the SIN-FULL. Jesus is about to fulfill the GREATEST and most costly of all of God’s Gracious promises. It is turning a profound page in history: from the NOT YET SEEN and REALIZED to the FULFILLED. It is no wonder that Jesus explained the raising of the Cup in the words of Matthew 26:29 and Mark 14: “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.
Jesus is declaring that THIS Cup marks the fulfillment God’s Covenant for many. Matthew 26:28 says: “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. As Jesus held up this cup, He was ALL TOO AWARE that He was to become very acquainted with man’s sin and God’s wrath against sin: 2 Corinthians 5: 21 says: “He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
We lift the Cup of Communion in order to “share in” the blessing of forgiveness, and we have absolutely NO RIGHT to do so. There is NOTHING in us that makes us worthy to be joint-heirs with Christ. We couldn’t possibly drink the cup of God’s Wrath to satisfy sin because we were the CAUSE FOR that CUP, in fact, we deserve to drink that cup as punishment WITH NO REWARD.
But then Jesus steps in, takes the cup of judgment against sin FOR US, and substitutes that cup of judgment with a cup of GRACE, provided by His own blood. There is NO REASON for us to be here and profess such forgiveness. It is on Christ’s account and God’s Grace that anyone can do so. It is ALL OF God’s GRACE that allows us access and membership into Christ and into God’s Kingdom.
PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for drinking the cup of my sin and wrath so that I may have Salvation. Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing us to participate in your suffering, for allowing us the privilege of SINS PARDONED. Thank you that you did not pass on drinking the cup of judgment so that we might drink the cup of salvation and thanksgiving.
The Cup of Communion: 1 Cor. 10:16: “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? This Cup is the reminder that Christ’s blood was poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins.”
3. SONG: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The CROSS
The Romans used THE CROSS as a stern warning of the penalty that would occur to anyone who refused to submit to Roman rule. The Romans were considered specialists in causing the most extreme suffering on the face of this earth. The soldiers who performed such “services” for their government seemed to be sadists, thoroughly enjoying their work.
Before a crucifixion, the soldiers would apply a scourging: They stretched the arms of the accused tightly around an upright beam inserted into the ground, so that the back was taut; The decorated whip whipped caused the flesh on the back and spine to open up to bare bone. It was after this that the solders would have the subject bend at the waste and then place the rough crossbeam of the cross directly upon the open spine, to be carried outside the city for the execution. (We often cringe with the sting of a splinter.)
It is at this point that we read in Matthew 27:32: “As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. (Jesus’ progress was probably very slow, and the soldiers were becoming impatient, so they did what they were allowed to do: Enlist a Jew to carry a load, so they said to Simon: “YOU! COME HERE. WE NEED YOU TO CARRY THIS CROSS.)
33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. 35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there.
37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." 38 At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. (remember the disciples had argued about the place of honor, one on the right and one on the left!) 39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself ! (Hosanna: save us had been the cry of the crowd on Palm Sunday) If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 "He saved others ; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel ; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 "HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
4. SONG: O Sacred Head Now Wounded:
Jesus had taught, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Now He was demonstrating the epitome of His calling: “Not My Will, but Thy Will be done.” Jesus SUBMITTED to the Father, and He would not be swayed by the whims of the world or by the Prince of the Powers of the earth. He would inherit the new earth and allow access to the Kingdom of GOd FOR THOSE who would follow Him.
He had taught: “Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted.” There was no comfort for Him from the crowd or from the antagonizer on the side of Him. He had no need to mourn or turn from His own sins, because He had none. The SINS of the guilty had instead been heaped upon Him, the innocent ONE.
His payment for His Perfect Life and for temporarily setting aside His Heavenly Glory was the SUFFERING of God’s wrath, which was reserved for the disobedient. This was His “Blessing” for hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Jesus was displaying His role as the “SUFFERING SERVANT”, sent from God’s Heavenly Throne and He would not “COME DOWN” from the Cross because IF HE DID, the Kingdom of God would be LOST! Perhaps the only comfort He had during those hours on the Cross was that one of the thieves crucified with Him realized HIS OWN NEED FOR Jesus, and realized that Jesus was NOT guilty, but that HE WAS THE SON OF GOD.
We all have experienced the pain of loss and being separated from someone we love, but we know NOTHING of the agony that Jesus was suffering when He cried: “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken ME!” If you had been eternally ONE with God for ETERNITY PAST, a perfect union in every way, what would it be like to be TOTALLY VOID of that DIVINE PRESENCE. THAT would be hell: NO GRACE. NO FAVOR OF God. Not the slightest hint of the GRACE of the great “I AM” was upon Jesus. For a time, Jesus experienced TOTAL SEPARATION from God, so that you and I, the guilty, would be united to God, and become Children of God. The Son of God was forsaken BY God, so you could become a Child of God!
Jesus’ submission, His willingness to take sin, God’s wrath, the unspeakable suffering and separation were WORKS by the Lord Jesus so that you could have SALVATION, so that you could be bought back, redeemed, re-created. This SALVATION is offered according to Christ’s works so that you could be saved by FAITH IN Christ’s Works. He accomplished this so that you might be at peace with God, but also so that you might be a PEACE MAKER FOR God and His Kingdom. He was Merciful to you, so that you might show that mercy to others in His Name. He imputes His righteous works to you so that YOU MIGHT BE pure in heart…so that you might enter the Kingdom of God.
The Cross is the Culmination and Fulfillment of the Cup. God allows you access and entrance into the Kingdom of God because of Christ’s shed Blood and fulfilled Life. Whenever we raise the Cup of Communion, we have to remember that it includes the CUP of His suffering, and separation, of self-denial, but also includes the Cup of Praise and Thanksgiving.
The sign above Jesus’ Head was: “This is the King of the Jews: ”HE is the true KING OF THE JEWS. “Jews” is from the word “Judah” which means “the Lord shall be Praised”. Jesus is KING of THE ONES WHO PRAISE HIM! He is King to the ones who Love Him and follow Him in Faith and obedience: To those He gives the right to be called Children of the Most High God.
Jesus’ invitation is the same today as it: “Come to me if you are bent over with the burden and guilt of sin, and I will give you rest.” Paul said in Galatians 6:14: “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
5. Song: The Power of the Cross
OUTLINE The Cross, The Cup and The Kingdom
I. The Cup
1. The Cup symbolizes God’s wrath. The Cup is foundational to the Kingdom.
2. The Cup declares the Shedding of Innocent Blood for sin.
3. The Cup is the fulfillment of God’s Covenant for MANY.
II. The Cross and the Kingdom Matt.27:32-44
1. SUBMISSION to the Father not to the whims of the world.
2. SINS of the guilty upon the innocent One.
3. SUFFERING God’s wrath reserved for the disobedient.
4. SEPARATION from God, so the guilty would be united to God.
5. SALVATION according to Christ’s works so you could be saved by FAITH IN Christ’s Works.
There were Four Cups during the Passover Meal:
The First cup during the Passover was the Cup of Blessing or Sanctification to thank God for the fruit of the vine and well as God’s provision in all things.
The Second cup was the Cup of Judgment or Deliverance. It was a reminder of God’s Wrath and Judgment against the hardened hearts of the Egyptians, but God’s deliverance of His People.
The Third cup of wine is taken after the meal: It is the Cup of Redemption or Salvation, which reminds us of the shed blood of the innocent Lamb which brought our redemption from Egypt. For us, THIS IS THE CUP of Communion.
The Fourth cup is the Cup of Praise, Thanksgiving or Restoration. Jesus took time to praise and thank the Lord at the end of the Passover, as well as for the Cup which He drank
