What's In The Cup?

What’s in the Cup?

The message today is based on the portion of scripture found in Mark 10:32-45.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again, he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

The Request of James and John

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

Prayer: God, as we look upon your Holy scripture, let your Spirit illuminate and bring life to the words that are read and spoken. May each ear be open to hear and each heart be ready to receive the message that you have prepared for Canton Assembly today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The title of today’s message is, “What’s in the Cup?”. As we saw, James and John were asking Jesus for something very special, “Allow us to sit at Your right and Your left in Your glory.”

Before Jesus answered them directly, he asked them a question. “Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Mark 10:38

In the account in Matthew He asks them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” Matthew 20:22.

Today we are going to look in God’s word to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes and what it means to share the cup that Jesus is referring to. We are going to look at three different cups that represent the seasons in our lives in order to prepare ourselves to answer the question, “Can I drink the cup that Jesus drinks?”.

We are all on our own journey with the Lord. None of us have arrived yet, and it is only by His grace that we are able to spend eternity in Heaven. As believers what is our goal? If we don’t know the goal, we will not recognize it when we attain it.

Is it a moment in the presence? Is it a month of services that end with the altars full? Is it a year that ends with the church so on fire and full that’s it’s busting at the seams with people? I submit to you that although all of these experiences are moves of the Spirit, they are not the end of the journey.

God uses these powerful moments of intimacy with him to plant a seed. But the intention of that seed is to establish a covenant with His people that will sustain us through not only the mountaintop moments, but also the valleys. Seed that will result in daily living that will shine the light of Jesus into a world of darkness. It is the light of Jesus that changes hearts and saves the lost.

The Lord gave me the illustration of 3 cups to share with you today that represent where we are in our faith journey. The Solo Cup, the Dirty Cup and the Covenant Cup.

The Cup that we have all drank from at one time or another is what I call the Solo Cup!

1) Solo Cup

Toby Keith Song Lyrics:

Red solo cup I fill you up

Let's have a party let's have a party

I love you red solo cup I lift you up

Proceed to party proceed to party

Now I really love how your easy to stack

But I really hate how your easy to crack

Look at the characteristics of the Red Solo Cup. They are known for being disposable, cheap because they are of lower quality than glass. They crack easily. Their characteristic red color is great for concealing the drinking contents.