Christ’s Cup of Grief

Isaiah 53:1-6

“CUP”• Container, by metonymy, its contents;

figuratively as “a figure of speech to represent one’s portion of or participation in something”

• Christ’s grief, pain and death, Matthew 20:22-23• Christ willingly drank the cup the Father

gave Him, John 18:10-11

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The Cup of Grief Over a Faithless Nation• Christ was grieved that Jerusalem rejected

Him, Matthew 23:36-39– Divine sorrow over Israel’s disobedience,

Romans 10:21 (Isa. 65:2)– Divine anger mingled with sorrow, Isaiah 65:3;

Ezekiel 18:32; cf. Lamentations 3:31-33• Divine judgment brought grief, Luke 23:26-31• Gospel brings joy, John 16:21-22, 33; Psa. 30:5

– cf. Ephraim: God’s heart of mercy, Jer. 31:203

The Cup of Grief Over Faltering Apostles Matt. 17:16-17

• Overconfidence, Matthew 26:31-35, 40-41 (Luke 22:45)– Sin grieves God, Ephesians 4:29-30– Grieved when Christians falter, Hebrews 6:6; 10:29

• Humble endurance pleases Christ, Philippians 3:12-16

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The Cup of Grief Over the Cross, Matthew 20:22; Mark 14:36

• Cup of humiliation, Acts 8:32-33 (Isaiah 53:7-8)– Complete submission led to humiliating

treatment by lawless men, Phil. 2:8; Isaiah 50:6; Mark 14:65; Luke 23:11; John 19:1-3, 10-11

– Example of Jesus, 1 Peter 2:20-23; 3:13-14

• Cup of pain and death, Luke 22:42-46

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Scourging

Direction of Whip Marks

Matthew 27:26

Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 255, No. 11, March 21, 1986)

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Mocked and BeatenMatthew 27:27-31

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Crucifixion

• Slow death, maximum pain and suffering

• Pain was excruciating (“out of the cross”)• Relatively bloodless form of execution

– Note: When Jesus’ side was pierced (blood and water) – He was already dead, John 19:31-34, 37

• Typically, no bones are broken, John 19:36 (Psalm 34:20)

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CrucifixionMatthew 27:35

Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 255, No. 11, March 21, 1986) 9

CrucifixionMatthew 27:35

Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 255, No. 11, March 21, 1986)

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Crucifixion

Matthew 27:35

Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 255, No. 11, March 21, 1986)

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Crucifixion of Jesus

• Darkness of the cross Matthew 27:45-46 (John 16:32)

• Death, Luke 23:44-46– He endured the cross and despised its

shame, Hebrews 12:2 • Held in contempt, looked down on

– No greater love, John 15:13; Romans 5:812

Philippians 3:10 (7-12)

• “the fellowship of His sufferings”• “conformed to His death”

– Full submission and surrender to Jesus

• Man of Sorrows….So we can have joy! John 16:22

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