And when the hour
came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to
them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For
I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And
he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it
among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit
of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:14-18).
The ancient Jewish commentary, the Midrash, records
that the Passover meal or Seder celebrated in Jesus’ day included four
different cups, each with a special meaning. Christ intentionally highlighted
two of the cups and the Holy Spirit inspired the gospel writers and the Apostle
Paul to record His words about these cups for us. Luke notes that after Jesus
expressed how earnestly He desired to share this Passover with His disciples,
He took the first cup, called the Cup of Sanctification that symbolized God’s
taking out the children of Israel from among the Egyptians, gave thanks
for it, and instructed His disciples to share it among themselves. He added a
curious prophecy, that He will not drink from this particular cup again… “until
the kingdom of God comes”. There is precious truth revealed in Jesus’ words
about this first cup of the Passover meal that some have called the cup of
holiness.
Jesus passionately purchased holiness for
us at the cross. There is a reminder here of the great price of our freedom
from sin. Jesus saw through the first cup of the Passover meal all the way to
the cross, and He earnestly desired to fulfill His mission to pay for sin
there. Sitting here in the midst of His disciples He was compelled and
encouraged toward Calvary by love for them and He was driven by the beautiful
vision of seeing them set free from the bondage of sin… “For our sake he
made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In just a little while He would be alone
and overwhelmed by the impending agony of the cross, He would need the
encouragement of angels… “’Father, if you are willing, remove this cup
from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ And there appeared to
him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed
more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to
the ground” (Luke 22:42-44). Perhaps Jesus desires our holiness even
more than we do. May Christ’s passion compel us to pursue the holiness He
earnestly desires for us!
Jesus purposefully prescribed holiness
for us every day. Diligent disciples are to grow in the holiness Jesus
purchased for us at Calvary… “For this is the will of God, your
sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). He promised the grace of the Holy Spirit to
help complete the work of sanctification in us… “We ought always to give
thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as
the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in
the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). In His instruction that the
disciples share the one cup of holiness together, Jesus’ exhorts disciples in
every age to help one another to grow in holiness as we travel together through
this unholy world toward the kingdom of God… “Brothers, if anyone is
caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a
spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
May Christ’s prescription for holiness compel us to grow in holiness together
with other disciples in a good local church!
Jesus prophetically promised holiness
for us in heaven. Jesus promised that He will drink the Cup of
Sanctification with us in eternity. What a precious promise! Because of the
new covenant that this supper with His disciples illustrated and that Christ
would soon seal with His own blood, we will soon be set free from the grip of
sin and temptation forever… “Now to him who is able to keep you from
stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with
great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be
glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever” (Amen.
Jude 1:24-25). May Christ’s promise of eternal holiness compel us to resist
and live above sin’s meager temptation today!
As we grow up into Christ, we grow in the holiness He purchased,
prescribed, and promised us in…
The Cup of Holiness.
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