The Cup Of Suffering?

The Cup Of Suffering?

Traditionally, we have always interpreted that Jesus' prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane was about crucifixion, which He already knew that He had to go through (Luke 22:15-22; John 12:32-33).

We think that Jesus identified with humanity and their feelings when He prayed, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me."

Well, Jesus was always identified with the Father (John 5:19). He only spoke the truth because He is the Truth (John 14:12). Throughout His ministry, Jesus was always bold and relentless (Luke 9:51; Prov 28:1). In the face of Pilate and His crucifixion, He remained steadfast (John 18:37) because He knew His purpose and He was looking forward to it with joy (Heb 12:2).

It is perhaps presumptuous to use our own humanity to interpret the God-Man. Jesus, while in human flesh like us, was nothing like us in soul and body. He came to represent the Father (John 20:21). He came to destroy the devil's works (1 John 3:8). He came to represent the Man before the Fall (1 Cor 15:45).

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫." - John 12:27

Jesus used the rhetorical question to make a firm statement. He was NOT going to pray like normal men and their emotions. For He was determined to fulfill His purpose. With this in mind, let's re-look into Jesus' prayer in the Garden.

"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done.” 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. - Luke 22:42-44

“My soul is very sorrowful, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” - Matt 26:38-39

In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 because of His devout behavior. - Heb 5:7

Jesus KNEW the Father's will. He knew that He had to go to the Cross. He didn't pray out of human fear or human feelings. That's sensuality. Nowhere in the Gospel do you see that in His life. We cannot simply take one verse and build a doctrine around it.

Jesus' prayer in the Garden was answered right after He prayed ---- the angels appeared to strengthen Him. He was heard and was delivered from death (Heb 5:7). Since Jesus wasn't delivered from the Cross, this is very likely a different 'cup' from the cup of crucifixion.

Some scholars believe that Heb 12:4 was pointing to Luke 22:42, where Jesus resisted sin to the point of shedding blood. He was fighting against the weight of the sin of humanity to the point of death. If He were to die at this point, He would NOT be able to go to the Cross.

I believe that this was probably the darkest hour of His wrestle against principalities before the Cross. It was the crucial moment before He could fulfill His purpose on the Cross, which He was eager to do so for the sake of us (Heb 12:2).

The Father delivered Him from the cup of premature death before the cup of crucifixion.

Perhaps we need to stop the sacred cow prayer of "not my will, but Yours be done" in everything (especially when His will is already in the Word), because Jesus did not come to simply pray the will of God. He came to SHOW and DO it (Heb 10:9).