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Jan 20, 2024 06:00am

Cup

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As the cooler temperatures set in, there are few things I enjoy more than a warm mug of coffee on my front porch…or maybe curled up with a blanket, with my mug of coffee, looking out the window, observing the beauty of fall within the comfort of the indoors. There’s just something about having a good ole hot cup of joe contrasting the bite of the cold.

I don’t know about you, but I have a favorite cup. I have noticed that most people gravitate toward a particular style, if not one specific cup, that they prefer to use. I, personally, prefer a more delicate style mug that is more like a teacup. This is mostly because I tend to get a little messy when I use the more popular cafe style mugs that are thick around the top.

Regardless of the style of cup I end up using, I usually find it easier to focus on my conversations with God and/or taking in His Word when I have a nice, warm cup of coffee in my hands.

As I was studying God’s Word recently, I started to notice the word “cup” is used in all sorts of ways. This piqued my curiosity, so I decided to “nerd out” and study all of the references I could find to cups in Scripture and see what God wanted me to know from that. One search told me there are 59 passages that reference a “cup” within the Scripture.

It turns out the Bible has a lot to say about cups. Apparently, Solomon only had cups made of pure gold. I might be a little high-maintenance, but nothing like ole Solomon.

During Passover celebrations, there are four cups that represent different promises from God mentioned in Exodus 6:5-7. The first cup is “The Cup of Sanctification” symbolizing God’s promise to bring His people out of their bondage to the Egyptians. God offers us sanctification (John 17:19) through our deepening relationship with Him, being made more like His image as we experience spiritual growth in our life experiences. The second cup is “The Cup of Deliverance” symbolizing God’s promise to free His people from slavery. He also offers us freedom from the things of this world that we find ourselves enslaved to, and we are sent into freedom that only He offers (John 8:32). The third cup is “The Cup of Redemption” symbolizing the blessing of redemption He offers us through His outstretched arms on the cross. He allows us to be redeemed from our sin, because He paid the price for us (Galatians 4:4-5). The fourth cup is “The Cup of Praise” celebrating how Jesus allows us to be His people (John 15:11).

In multiple passages of Scripture, “cup” is a reference to one’s condition of life or situation being faced. Sometimes, the reference to the cup is something difficult, but there are also references to one’s cup as being a blessing. Regardless of how the cup is being viewed by the person expounding on it, the Bible repeatedly shows that whatever cup we find ourselves holding, God’s will in allowing that particular cup is no mistake. It is given by God on purpose and for an eternal purpose.

Luke 22:20 is one Scripture among many that references “cup” as the new Covenant made through the shedding of Jesus’ blood.

Isaiah 51:17 is one of many passages that depicts the cup as a symbol of suffering and wrath and fury of God that will be served to those who are evil, to which they will be forced to drink it down to the very dregs. If you have ever had the last of the pot of coffee, you might have a very minute idea of the bitterness that is being portrayed here. The Bible says they will have to drink it down to the last drop.

Those of us who have accepted the gift of salvation can celebrate the fact that Jesus drank all of the way down to the last drops of the dregs for us…all of us-every sin, all of the wrath we deserve.

In Matthew 26:39 and Matthew 26:42, Jesus prayed twice for His cup to be taken away from Him on the night before his death, in the Garden of Gethsemane, but He surrendered to the ultimate will of God, in order to save us from the fate of drinking that bitter cup, and told His Father that He was willing to drink this bitter cup if it was not possible to take it away in any other way. When Peter tried to defend Jesus, as He was being arrested, Jesus told him to put his sword away, because He must drink the cup His Father had given Him.

My favorite, most nostalgic (quoted by my mom and grandmother often, especially when enjoying their family) reference to the cup God allows me is from Psalm 23:5-6.
“You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.”

So, it is my prayer that you and I might consider the depth of God’s love for us symbolized by our cups every time we enjoy our favorite warm drink. I pray we might enjoy their warmth and the comfort they bring and be reminded of the beautiful gift God gave us when He willingly drank the bitter cup we deserved-every last dreg of it.