“The Gospel of Three Cups”
Luke 22:1-18
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
A. Read Text – Luke 22:1-18
B. Notice in our text three phrases:
1.) “And He took the cup”
2.) “He gave thanks”
3.) “He said, Take this and divide it among yourselves”
C. The Jewish custom of partaking of a meal is a solemn matter – To partake of a meal without first giving thanks unto God is considered sacrilege.
D. The usual prayer before eating a meal is – “Blessed be Thou, our God, King of the universe, who brought forth bread out of the earth.”
E. The usual prayer before drinking is – “Blessed be our God, the King of the universe, the Creator of the fruit of the vine.”
F. It is from this passage of the Gospel of Luke that most believe we have the origin of our custom of saying grace before our meals.
G. IF Christ prayed before eating and drinking, so should we!
H. Illustration – A king noticed that his courtiers never said grace before dining, so he decided to teach them a lesson. He brought an old, dirty beggar into his palace-dining hall and fed him. After gorging himself, the beggar got up and left without saying thank you to the king. The courtiers were outraged at the audacity of the beggar, and they complained to the king. He told them they had done the same to their heavenly Father.
I. There are 3 Cups mentioned in the Word of God – One the Lord drank from, and 2 we can drink from.
J. Let us examine these three cups today…
II. The Cup of God’s Wrath (Ps. 75:8; Rev. 14:10; Lk. 22:42)
A. Read – Psalm 75:8; Rev. 14:10
B. This is the Cup of God’s Wrath and is the same cup that the Lord referred to in Luke 22:42 – “If it be possible, remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”
C. God is LOVE, yet God is also a holy, righteous God Who will mete out judgment for SIN.
D. The greatest evidence that God HATES Sin is the CROSS.
E. Psalm 7:11 – “…God is angry with the wicked every day.”
F. There is Coming a Payday Someday!
G. Christ came to die for the sins of the world; He came to seek and to save that which was lost; He came to save sinners from the wages of sin, which is death!
H. Jesus died as our propitiation – Our Substitute – Our Lamb!
I. Without the BLOOD, there is no remission of sin – There is no atonement – There is no means of salvation.
J. When Jesus prayed in the Garden (Luke 22:39-42), He knew what was involved in drinking this cup.
K. Isaiah 53:1-6 reveals to us the awful description of this cup.
L. Jesus drank it all with bitter dregs.
M. Psalm 22 depicts the cruel means of death He suffered for us all.
N. Galatians 1:3-4; 1:15; Heb. 9:26; 1 John 2:2 – Why Jesus died….
O. This cup was not a “physical cup”, but rather a “spiritual cup”
P. Illustration – Teacher must give lashes to a poor, helpless boy, but another student says, “I’ll take his woopin for him!”
III. The Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116:12-19)
A. Read – Psalm 116:12-13
B. Jesus drank from the Cup of God’s Wrath in order that we might drink from the second cup, The Cup of Salvation!
C. The Cup of Salvation is made FREE to all who would believe, but it was not CHEAP!
D. Notice the following verses - Psalm 116:14-19
E. As I think of Christ on the Cross of Calvary, our hearts should cry out, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?”
F. Luke 22:17 gives us 3 Things we ought to do…
1.) First, we must TAKE the Cup of Salvation
2.) Secondly, we ought to GIVE THANKS unto the Lord
3.) Thirdly, we ought to DIVIDE IT AMONG OTHERS!
G. This is what being a Christian is all about – Trusting Christ as Savior and Lord, giving Him thanks and worship, and then sharing the message with others.
IV. The Cup of Suffering (Matthew 20:20-23)
A. Read – Matt. 20:20-23
B. After believers grow in grace and knowledge, there will no doubt be times of suffering.
C. Suffering, Sorrow, and Pain come with the territory!
D. However, although we have times of difficulty, we can “Be of Good Cheer” because “Greater is He Who is in us, than he that is in the world.”
E. Nehemiah 8:10 – “The JOY of the Lord is our strength.”
F. It is during times of trouble that we can be the brightest LIGHT.
G. Job said, “The Lord giveth and taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
H. He also said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
I. What a joy to know that He is watching over us, not allowing anything to happen in our lives without a purpose.
J. Have YOU first taken the Cup of Salvation?
K. Have YOU given thanks unto the Lord?
L. Are YOU sharing this Cup with others?
