The Cup

My Cup

I collect coffee cups. My favorite cup is this Commemorative Desert storm gold plated mug. SHOW MUG w/ coffee in it. >> THEN HIDE MUG.

I have sipped coffee from some really nice cups, and the same coffee taste better - from a better cup. I have tasted some coffee that no cup could improve.

Ever go into a store and ask if the coffee is fresh, and the clerk probably has never tasted coffee in his life says “O, yes I just made it this morning” -and it’s 3:00 in the afternoon! It has been sitting there for 8 hours burning, getting stronger and bitter. It takes a real man to chug down a cup of that stuff. At VBS last week some of the guys tried to get me to drink so “kool-aid”, suicide, (different flavors all mixed together) I wasn’t brave enough for hat.

ILL>>> James C. Dobson >>>> When I think of parents today, I’m reminded of a photograph of an elegantly dressed woman who is holding a cup of coffee. Her little finger is cocked ever so daintily to the side, and her face reveals utter self-confidence. Unfortunately, this woman does not yet know that her slip has collapsed around her feet. The caption reads, "Confidence is what you have before you understand the situation." Indeed!

ILL>>>The legend of the Holy Grail is familiar; the search for the chalice from the upper room, the very cup with which the Lord’s Supper was first instituted. If we had that cup would it enhance our observance of Communion? Not at all. We do have something from that first supper in that upper room. That something does enhance our observance of Communion. We have the presence of Jesus Christ who said, "I drink it anew [with you] in the kingdom of God"

We have been offered cups of coffee and many other cups in out lifetime. The cup of selfishness, pleasure, pride, anger. greed, gluttony, unbelief, unfaithfulness. This morning I want to invite you to taste a different cup --- the cup of Christ!

Read ----Mat 26:26-29

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

The cup is spoken of often in the Bible in a literal sense. Figuratively, the image of a cup also expresses several important ideas,

**** >>> the most important one is the sacrificial death of Christ.

Three cups were passed around by the Jewish householder during the Passover meal; the third, which is probably that referred to here, was known as “the cup of blessing.”

Today it is seen as ...

The cup of Christ was

I. The Cup of Sacrifice

A. Sacrifice created a new communion v 27 all of you ... together

1 Cor 10:16–17. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

When a believer participates, he partakes of Christ’s death on the cross.

So we observe communion also called the Lord’s supper.

1. Communion with Christ

This means to share and to participate in the benefits of Christ’s saving work on Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear

Daily my cross for thee;

Even thy cup of grief to share,

Thou hast borne all for me.

Jennie Evelyn Hussey (1874-1958)

2. Communion with the Church

ILL>>> Today hopefully I wont forget to serve the bread first and the cup last... Thank you for not getting angry about something like that. You are good about being kind and laughing about things like that. >>> When a church comes together for communion it must be together in unity. No anger or unforgiveness, but only love and warmth that can be seen and felt.

GOD ASKS US ALL TO DRINK FROM THIS CUP! HE SACRIFICED FOR THE CHURCH-- YOU CAN TOO.

All those who come to the Lord’s Supper enter into communion with one another. They form one body because of their participation with Christ. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

- A celebration --- of a new relationship

- A constitution ----of a new covenant

B. Sacrifice created a new covenant (or testament) w/ 2 sides

a document that provides for the distribution of one’s property after death; a bequest.

1. new covenant of Promise By the shedding of blood

This word is not an agreement between equals, but a settlement by a great or rich man for the benefit of another. ie - “last will and testament”

2. new covenant of forgiveness For the remission of sins