Devotional: Drink the Cup Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45

Human beings are a family—a community. As individuals we want to be accepted by others in the community, and we want to achieve something important. However there are many factors that prevent us from obtaining our goals in life. Some of the things that keep us from reaching our goals are societal norms, traditions, and values. Often, it is our own unwillingness to do what we need to do to achieve what we want. We want something, but we are not willing to pay the price. We are not inclined to do the things that are necessary to get what we want.

The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us an account of the disciples of Jesus scheming to get the most important seats with Jesus when He comes into His kingdom. The sons of Zebedee, James and John, are spoken up for by their mother. She tells Jesus that she wants to ask a favor of Him. She wants one of her sons to sit on the left and the other son to sit on the right. Jesus asks James and John if they know what they are asking. “But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? Let us stop here and ask ourselves two questions. First, what is in the cup? Secondly, am I willing and able to drink what’s in the cup?

Jesus knows that He is soon to die on the cross. He will be betrayed by one of His disciples. He will be judged falsely by the Jewish religious leaders. They will turn Him over to the Roman authorities to be crucified. He will be abused physically, mentally, and emotionally by the Roman soldiers. All of these things are in the cup that Jesus will have to drink before He comes into His kingdom. If they want to be in the kingdom with Jesus, they too will have to drink from the same cup. However, drinking the cup is no guarantee that they will sit beside Jesus. These seats are determined by the Father.

Do you want to achieve something in life? Are you willing to pay the price even though there is no guarantee that you will accomplish everything that you hope for? Jesus teaches His disciples that drinking the cup is a part of our Christian journey. It is a way of life. As my mother often said, the problem with Christian people is that “they think that they are going to get to heaven on flowery beds of ease.” Jesus teaches us that we must be willing to drink the cup.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You that Jesus drank the cup for our salvation. Give us the strength to drink the cup that You require us to drink for Your name sake. Amen.