Drink The Cup My Father Has Given Me

by Major Robert Lloyd

Scripture focus John 18:1-27

Commentators estimate that there were between 200 and 600 guards who came to the olive grove to arrest Jesus. He knew they were coming, He could probably see their torches. He knew they were coming for him, they were coming in force because they were expecting him to flee. In every account of this story, Jesus tells them to drop their weapons. He needed to "drink the cup His Father had given Him." The scripture had to be fulfilled (Matthew 26:52). Jesus knew He would be taking the place of the sacrificial lamb.

John 3:16-21

They came to arrest Jesus in the dark of night, hiding the deeds they were doing outside of the Roman law. We aren't called to bring the world to Him through fear and violence, but through the love of Jesus.

Matthew 10:32:33

Peter is denying his intimacy with Jesus. We must never do that. We need to accept the blessings and the trials of being in a relationship with Christ. There is a chance of persecution, but we need to accept it. Jesus did. At least 23 Roman laws were broken during Jesus' arrest (according to commentary). He was treated unjustly. He an relate to our feelings of being treated unjustly.

Peter denied Jesus three times and then the rooster crows. He remembers what Jesus prophesied. It was Jesus' job to die for our sins. Many people point to Peter's betrayal but both Peter and John should be commended for following Jesus into a dangerous and possibly deadly situation. Peter however avoids "sharing the cup" by not sharing his relationship with Christ.

I want to lead a life that makes it impossible for me to deny Christ.

Matthew 7:15-23

We will be know by our fruit. If we produce bad fruit (or no fruit) we will be tossed into the fire.

Final thought: If Christianity were a crime in the United States and you were being accused, would there be enough evidence to convict you?


1000 Gifts: three gifts green

• It is a gift to see the green start peeking out on the trees. 
• It is a gift to see the green sprouts of the bulbs sprouting from the dirt. 
• It is a gift to see the grass getting greener as the weather is getting warmer.