the Cup

At the end of care group tonight we had communion together. Earlier tonight Jess quoted a portion of the crucifixion narrative (http://emily-sc.blogspot.com/2008/03/father-forgive-them.html). There were 2 cups we discussed.

The first was the cup of God's wrath.
"The Father says: 'I hate these things inside of you. I’m filled with disgust for you and indignation for your sin consumes me. Now, drink my cup!' And Jesus does. He drinks for hours. He downs every drop of the scalding liquid of God’s own hatred of sin mingled with his white-hot wrath against that sin. This is the Father’s cup: omnipotent hatred and anger for the sins of every generation past, present, and future. Omnipotent wrath directed at one naked man hanging on a cross."

But Jesus transferred that cup with a very different one.
"And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:27-28

He took my cup. The cup of wrath. The cup of God's righteous indignation. Jesus took that and drank and drank and drank until it was completely gone. The night before, Jesus held out a cup to those who only hours later would leave him completely alone and forsaken. He took this cup, gave thanks for it and in love, said to them "drink." They didn't know until later what this really meant. They couldn't have truly understood the substitutionary action He was symbolizing in that moment. But later they understood. Tonight, I understood. I can drink that cup symbolizing His covenant with His people only because He drank my cup. My cup that was full of God's indignation and wrath. My cup that was justly deserved. That cup was fully exhausted by Jesus that day on the cross.

And he looks at me and says with thanks to the Father "drink, sweet child, of this cup. Rejoice in this covenant of love. Rejoice in this costly sacrifice. I did this in obedience to my Father and to bring a hope and a future to you. Come to me... you can't buy this... now drink. Drink and be satisfied. Come and see your thirst quenched. Come buy this costly drink though you have no money. Come feast though you have no robes. Attend this banquet and be satisfied. Come and drink of my Living Water! I drank your cup of boiling hot wrath so that you can drink my cup of sweet satisfaction."

What a transaction! What a different cup He offers to me than the cup he took from me. He willingly thankfully offered His cup to me, knowing that in order to do this, He would have to drink my cup. He chose this costly interaction. And He chose it with thankfulness in His heart - for His Father was being glorified through this transaction.

Communion tonight was sweet. Though it was mere bread and juice, I took part in a special and awe-inspiring interaction as well. My cup of wrath was drunk by Jesus that day and today I drank of His cup of sweet covenantal intimacy. Substitutionary atonement - He took my place. Those two words are becoming sweeter and deeper to me. My soul is truly feasting despite my desert of pain and trials. This feast makes my cross worth bearing. Seeing Him drinking my cup gives me no option other than whole-hearted, unadulterated love to my sweet Jesus - my sweet, amazing substitute and the tender lover of my weary, parched, sin-filled soul.

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1

The Father says to me "Come and drink my cup! I drank yours with thanksgiving. Now drink mine and find satisfaction."