The Messiah and the Cup

Mark 14

During His hasty trial before Caiaphas the high priest, Jesus initially did not respond to false witnesses. However, when Caiaphas asked directly, “Are you the Messiah?” …“I am!” Jesus affirmed that He is the Messiah, “Anointed One.” He would then prepare for His death.

In Mark 14, Jesus’ prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, prior to this affirmation, revealed the conflict in His holiness and in His soul as He faced bearing the sins of all humanity on the cross. It was here that Jesus experienced the “millstone” like weight of humanity’s sin to the point of sweating drops of blood from the pressure of such anguish. God had sent His Son to bear the weight of sin and to die in humanity’s place—to die as a sacrifice for you and me.

When we have a Gethsemane experience, where we are being squeezed, where we are under immense pressure, or where we are being physically or mentally crushed, pray what Jesus prayed at Gethsemane: “Not what I will, but what You will.”

Later, when Jesus was being arrested, Peter had a sword, but Jesus took a cup—the fifth cup, the cup of death. We need not fear the cup the Father has prepared for us, as difficult as it often is, for He has also prepared eternity for us. Jesus could submit to the abuse of men because He had already submitted to the will of God. And so, from the cup He lasted drank.

Throughout Mark 14, Warren Wiersbe instructs us that we see preparation. There was a preparation for “betrayal, for a burial, for a fellowship, for danger, and for death.”

In Marks account of the last moments of Jesus’ life, he depicts the Jewish authorities as quickly and cautiously plotting Christ’s death because the public was on His side.

“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.” Mark 14:10–11 (ESV)
Following Mary’s fragrant anointing, which revealed a future burial preparation, Judas offered to betray Jesus to the chief priests. They offered to pay him 30 pieces of silver, a small amount, so he immediately began looking for the opportunity to betray Christ.

While Judas looked for opportunities, the disciples looked for a place to gather for the Passover—in preparation to celebrate.

“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” Mark 14:12–16 (ESV)

Later, as Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, He predicted that one of them would betray Him, saying to him, “it would have been better for you to have never been born.”

At the Passover Feast, with the disciples specifically placed, Peter on one side of Him, and Judas, the betrayer, on the other side of Him, the blood of the new covenant was explained.

“And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:22–25 (ESV)

Jesus used the elements of wine and bread to symbolize His approaching death, which would establish a New Covenant between God and his people— with you and me. Even at this time of great distress, Jesus and His disciples took time to worship. How difficult would that have been for Jesus; especially, knowing what was before Him?

Having said that one of His disciples would betray Him, Jesus now predicted that all of them—especially Peter—would forsake him. All of the disciples—especially Peter—denied that they would do so.

His grief in Gethsemane deeply depressed Him. As He contemplated His approaching death, Jesus expressed His anguish to God.

Meanwhile the disciples, missing the significance of what was going on, slept quietly.

While one betrays; the others abandon. Fulfilling Christ’s predictions, Judas led the authorities to Jesus to arrest him, and the 11 other disciples fled to safety, but only after Peter exhibits his sword skills on the ear of Malcus.

In a specific fulfillment of Christ’s prediction, Peter denied him three times and the cock crows.

How about you? How do you respond to Jesus? How do you respond to the censoring and suppression of spiritual conversations about Jesus in our current culture? Do you deny Him with your words or your actions?

How do you respond “for” Jesus? How would you have responded at the table, in the garden, at the sentencing? Are you ashamed of the Gospel? Are you prepared to give an account of your faith in Him?
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Today, may you stand strong and testify to your faith in His saving grace—in His Messiahship.

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