Cup of Suffering

While in Scripture, a cup can refer to a drinking vessel, it frequently is used to represent a person's lot in life, their purpose or God's plan for them (Ps 16:5). God’s plan for the wicked is judgment and justice while His plan for those who belong to Him is provision and blessing (Ps 11:6, 23:5; Isa 17:17; Rev 14:10). As believers we are to willingly and gratefully receive whatever it is that God offers us. Be it times of peace or strife, plenty or want, joy or sorrow.

A cup also symbolizes the Lord’s table or the Lord’s supper (Mt 26:27,28).

Just before Jesus was arrested, He prayed in anguish to His Father three times, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Mt 26:39,42,44). Here, ‘the cup’ symbolised the extreme suffering and wrath He was about to endure, representing the punishment for humanity's sins, and to meet the demands of God to purchase our salvation. The agony He faced was physical, spiritual, and emotional. Jesus Christ was the only possible sacrifice to redeem the world (Jn 1:29; Act 4:12; Heb 10:14; Rev 5:9). The struggle was intense, yet He yielded His desire because He was fully submitted to God’s will (Mt 26:38; Lk 22:44). He had come “to seek and to save the lost” and accomplished His mission, even though it meant drinking the cup of suffering and fury to the bitter end (Lk 19:10). “For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in [Christ] we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus had previously asked James and John, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” and they replied, “We can” (Mt 20:22). They and countless other believers have experienced suffering and hardship for Christ, understanding that it is part of their path to discipleship.

believers, we experience no wrath – only the love of God. The lost will bear their wrath eternally because they did not accept Christ’s pardon for their sin. Bearing our figurative cross is a call to be as submitted as Christ was (when He carried His literal cross to His execution) and is the only way to be faithful disciples and become like Jesus. He didn’t say we will be physically crucified, but we should constantly die to ourselves as we choose His way over ours. Our cross to bear may be various afflictions that last for a season or remain long-term, like Paul’s thorn in the flesh that God didn’t remove (2 Cor 12:7-10).

If a solution or remedy to address the issue is not obtainable, accept your thorn as part of your life experience and allow it to add value to your character. However, ensure that your situation does not detrimentally affect your relationship with God for allowing it. Instead, view it as your unique way to spiritual freedom and ultimate blessing. Persevering develops character, and as you look forward to eternity free of the suffering and heartache of this world (Heb 12:2). Whatever your cross, refuse to give it undue attention by bringing ‘poor me’ into every conversation.

See also: cross, crucifixion, self-pity, trials, victim mentality.