What exactly is the cup of Jesus? Our Lord Himself gave referrence to His cup or referrence to someone else drinking His cup in Matthew and Mark. Both times Jesus was asked that James and John the sons of Zebedee the Galilean fisherman be granted special favor to sit at Jesus's right and left hand in His glory. Our Lord's answer to them was this ~ Mark 10: 38 Ye know not what ye ask; can ye drink of the cup I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? Jesus then waited on their answer, which was, We can!. Our Lord's reply to this impetuously brave answer sealed the fate of all of them ~ Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

The desciples answer would seem to be fool-hardy in that they really had no clear idea what Jesus meant. I do believe they would have said anything to impress the Master. In Matthew 20: 18 & 19 and Mk. 10: 33 & 34, our Lord has just told them of His journey to Jerusalem, His betrayal, His delivery unto the Gentiles to be scourged and beaten and ultimately His death by crucifixion. Finding out how they would back this brave answer up in the Garden of Gethsemane at Jesus's arrest, proves my point here. They were trying to impress and get atta-boys and blessing from The Master. Look back at Matthew 17 at The mount of transfiguration, Jesus taking Peter, James and John up with Him must have swelled their chests and puffed them up something fierce. Look how these three acted from that day forward. In verses 14 - 21, the desciples were asked to cast a demon out of a young man. Look what happened, Jesus having to rebuke the desciples and do it Himself. Now these men had just come down from the mountain after having witnessed probably the greatest sight next to Moses being in the presence of God's Glory to ever be witnessed by carnal man and they have to be rebuked for having no Faith. To top all of these exihibitions of pride off they start arguing who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. In Mark 9: 33 - 41 the Word says ~ And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34) But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
35) And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
36) And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in his arms, He said unto them,
37) Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but him that sent Me.
38) And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39) But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me.
40) For he that is not against us is on our part.
41) For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Another instance of the desciples dropping the ball. After Jesus took a young child into His lap He says ~ Mark 9: 37 37) Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me. Mark 10: 13 And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

Which leads me back to the place where I started this text. If we were to walk with Jesus today we would behave exactly like the desciples. We'd argue and bicker over who had done the most for Jesus, who sacrificed the most to follow, who was willing to suffer unto death for Him; Who understood the most Truth. We'd puff ourselves up just like Paul did at all of the revelation he was receiving. But the thorn was the reward for that pride. I do believe when the roll is called up yonder and deeds are called to Light, we would all hang our heads in shame at our foolishness in displaying such boasts we never could back up.

We are all prepared to share the blessings of Christ, just as the twelve did. We'll never have a problem with that. As long as God is pouring out the good times and fat years we rejoice and praise Him with an excitement that can be heard to the ends of all the heavenly realm. But let the time come where leaness and lack and tribulation befall us, we suddenly quit singing His praises. Everything comes in their own seasons. We would start with, But God, Why are you letting this or that thing happen? ~ But God, I don't like this, please take it from me. As long as money is coming out of the fishes mouth for taxes and loaves are multiplying exponentially and people are popping out of the woodwork begging you to stay and eat with them, it's easy to glory in the Lord.

If you notice, the desciples didn't get real concerned with their future until Jesus started talking about His little trip to Jerusalem. After the first three or four times of Him reminding them of His deliverance into the hands of the Gentiles and His death, they started to make other plans for their future, like ~ Ahh, Lord, Bein as we are following you all around; You wouldn't mind us sitting beside you in all Your glory, would Ya? And good old Peter. The one who's nature Jesus said His church would be built upon.

In Matthew 16: 21 - 28 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22) Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.
23) But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24) Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.
28) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.

This is Peter's nature to try to talk Jesus out of His date with glory. This is the nature of the church today. Look in verse 18 of this same chapter Jesus says, And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in Heaven.
18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. This is my paraphrase of what Jesus said to Peter, Blessed are you Peter, You couldn't have known that I was Christ unless My Father had told you. Because you proclaim this, I will build My church on your revelation of Who I Am. And because of this divine revelation, hell will not be able to stand against My church. And I will also give you the answers to all things about My Kingdom. And whatsoever you shall lock up on earth will already be what is locked up in Heaven. And whatsoever you shall set free on earth will already be what is set free in Heaven.

I say this nature Peter had is the nature of the church because of how we operate. As long as everything is going great we take no thought to serving the Master. When we see Christ's crucifixion will impose on our comfortable life, we pull the Master aside and question His intentions. Everything was fine when He was providing all our wants and needs. When it comes time for day to turn into night we suddenly get fearful and apprehensive of our destiny. Where's the trust now? Isn't this the same Lord? Isn't this the same God? What? All of a sudden He doesn't care or love us anymore?

Listen people, We will never get this thing together and accomplish that which He has set us out to do unless we LAY THIS STINKING FLESH DOWN! We in the church have to stop concerning ourselves with making alternate plans when we see God easing us in the direction of Calvary. We have got to be willing to lay down on the cross beam and open our wrists up to the nails. This is the problem with the church today people, we aren't willing to share in Christ's crucifixion. we only want to share in His blessings.

And notice I said----WE AREN'T WILLING. Because He is the only One Who makes the call as to who actually suffers or not. I call it the--- What is that to you lesson. Jesus taught this one also to Peter in John 21 when Peter was putting his nose where it didn't belong again by concerning himself as to what was God's plans for John.

This is my favorite witness in God's Word. I have no problem choosing a favorite as I love them all, but this one in Galatians 2: 20 is the one we all should speak, pray, shout and proclaim to the world everyday from the highest rooftops. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. The Life I now live---I live by Faith or by His Holy Spirit.

Some would say the cup of Jesus today in New Covenant doctrine is the cup of communion. This cup of Jesus is equally important as it calls to rememberance the price He paid when He bought all of our stinking souls from hell. My question is, How can we partake of this cup of blessing if we have never partook of the cup of affliction? This won't work people. Suffering always has to come before glory.

This witness to the church at Corinth isn't touched on very often today mainly I think, because of the Words referrence to suffering in some way by taking communion unworthyly. Suffering for Christ's sake isn't a popular subject to preach on today, unfortunately for us. 1 Cor. 11: 26 - 30 It's called the Bread of Adversity and The Water of Affliction. This cup is the New Covenant in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.
26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.
27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep in death. Verse 29 in the Amplified text says it this way ~ For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that (it is Christ's) body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgement) upon himself. What Paul is talking about here is witnessed to again in Galatians 2: 20 (Amp) ~ I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion); it is no longer I who live, but Christ (The Messiah) lives in me; and the Life I now live in the body I live by Faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself up for me.

By not examining and fully discerning the Lord's Body and not knowing what the taking of the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction really means you set yourself up for sure judgement. Galatians 2: 20. Is very clear. Isaiah 30: 20 (amp) says ~ And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. This Teacher is capitalized because this is the Master. The Master desires to lead us all in the right direction. He desires us to trust His will for our life.

The reason why we are always at odds with God's will in our life is because we haven't accepted the Truth that in order for us to share in Christ's glory we first have to be willing to share in His suffering. Uh-Oh not that ! Romans 8: 15 - 17 ~ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. The Amplified translation puts it this way, 15) For (the Spirit which) you have now received (is) not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!
16) The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God.
17) And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him); only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory.

Our Lord Jesus didn't enter into Glory first then suffering, He suffered and then entered into Glory. Why do we think it's different for us? It wasn't different for Paul. He understood fully the importance of suffering for Christ's sake. I have a subject up, Suffer to Glory which lists just about all the witnesses in God's Word thar attests to the need for us to be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. John 12: 24 - 26 (Amp) says ~ I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains (just one grain; it never becomes more but lives) by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.
25) Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.)
26) If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me (to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying) and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

I don't know what God has in mind for you. He may not require you to suffer. He may not allow that lot in life for you. But I can tell you this and you better believe it, if you aren't willing to suffer for Jesus, you better get ready for much heartache and grief. If you are prepared to follow only Him, you will be required to suffer one way or the other, this life or the next. This life it's a blink of an eye. What Jesus is saying in John is if we don't willingly lay our life down on God's altar and be willing to accept anything He desires for our carnal walk, then we are saying to Him we love the life on earth more than the everlasting life He has planned for us in paradise, thus we will reap what we sow.

Like I said, God may not require you to suffer here in this carnal walk. I call this the Abrahamic Principle. When Abraham got the Word from God to sacrifice his only begotten son on Mount Moriah, he wasn't sure how God would handle the delimna in Abraham's mind concerning the Promise and him killing his son. It had to be at least at first a little troubling to him as to how this was to be done. But because He wavered not concerning the Promise of God he pleased the Father and is known as the father of Faith and a personal friend of God. Romans 4: 20 & 21 (Amp) No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the Promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by Faith as he gave praise and glory to God.
21) Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and to do what He had promised. Because Abraham didn't hold back and was willing to suffer terribly for the sake of Christ. And because he was willing God told him, Abraham, here's a ram in the bushes, I don't require your sacrifice any longer, because you're obedient to my commands. Do you see this principle? This same principle applies to us today. Whatever we lay on God's altar willingly, God will freely make a way to give it back to us. That's His promise. Anything we hold back from God, He will require that very thing from us, and we had better get this thing down and understand and HEAR this for it will save us much grief. This is a very important principle brethren because the Kingdom of God is founded on it. If we can fully HEAR this and stand on it, this principle will set us free from a lot of confusion concerning the way God operates in His Kingdom. If we venerate anything above Him or His interests for us you can rest assured He will come calling you to the altar like He did Abraham.

Finishing up with this subject of drinking Jesus's cup I will just say, if we aren't completely and totally willing to drink the cup Jesus partook of, the cup of affliction, the cup of suffering, then we will surely be forced to answer Him when He calls our name and asks for that very thing we hold dear. We better understand if we don't go to the altar and lay it all down, the altar will cry out for sacrifice, whether we like it or not.

I BID YOU HEART PEACE AND ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSING UNTO YOU FROM HIS THRONE OF GRACE!