Cup of Salvation

I heard Dr. Ron Mitchell at First Baptist Church of Huber Heights say in a sermon, “Christ drank His cup of bitterness that we might drink of the cup of salvation.” I enjoy word pictures so my mind immediately started “spilling” pictures of the word “cup.”

In Psalm 116, the psalmist talks of the “cup of salvation.” Jesus celebrated Passover many times where this Psalm was read after the meal and after the third cup of wine. Participants read “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (vs. 12-13)

Jesus knew the Psalms well. How fitting that He prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of His betrayal, “let this cup pass from Me…” Matt. 26:39 Yet, He continued, “…may Your will be done.” (vs.42) Often I think of this “cup” as Christ’s agony or physical suffering. As horrible as that was, his “cup” reaches much deeper. The sinless Son of God had to be separated from His Father to bear the sins of all mankind. He bore your sins and mine. 2 Cor. 5:21 tells us “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,…” Jesus became the “Cup of Salvation.!” Give Him praise and thanks daily!