 The
Proclaimer
The King's Cup
On one occasion
the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus asking Him, “Command that
these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand,
in thy kingdom” (Matt. 20:21). Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink the cup
that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able. He saith unto
them, My cup indeed ye shall drink” (Matt. 20:22, 23). I’m confident that
this mother had no idea what Jesus was talking about. Thinking Christ’s
kingdom would be physical and earthly in nature, she wanted a place of honor
for her two boys James and John. Therefore, the idea of them drinking from
the King’s cup was exhilarating indeed.
When the other
apostles heard of this request they were “moved with indignation.” Jesus
then taught a lesson we all need to learn: “Whosoever would become great
among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 20:26). How many today are striving
for greatness in the Lord’s kingdom by looking for a place of prominence and
honor in the church? How many never truly realize that greatness in His
kingdom comes by accepting a place of service? How many today want to sit
on the right or left of the throne and drink from the King’s cup?
Obviously, Jesus
referred to the cup of suffering that He had to drink on the cross. I’ve
sometimes wondered if the mother of James and John remembered her request of
Jesus when she saw Him hanging on Calvary’s cross? He had one on his right
and one on his left, but they were not on thrones. I suspect she was glad
that her boys were not on either side of the King that day.
However, Just as
Jesus said it would, the day of drinking from the King’s cup did come for
the two sons of Zebedee. James was the first of the Lord’s apostles to be
martyred as Herod killed him with the sword (Acts 12:1, 2). And John
endured years of exile and persecution on the Isle of Patmos. Indeed, they
did drink of the King’s cup. And so will we. Oh, we may not have to
actually die for the cause of Christ as James did. But if we are to see
eternity with the King, we must drink the cup of humility and servitude.
We must be
willing to humble ourselves, “becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the
death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). With this mind, we should, “think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove
you, as though a strange thing happened unto you” (1 Peter 4:12). Paul
writes, “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution” (2 Tim. 2:12). Yes, we too must be willing to drink from the
King’s cup.
And
yet there is another side of drinking from the King’s cup, for while
drinking from the King’s cup may produce persecution and suffering, it will
also produce glory. For this reason the Hebrew writer says concerning
Christ and His suffering, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God” (Heb. 12:2.) There was no “joy” in the suffering of the
cross per se. But Jesus was able to look past the suffering, for after the
suffering comes the glory. And more than that, “For I reckon that the
sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed to us-ward” (Rom. 18:8). May God help us all “drink
from the King’s cup.”
-- Clark Dugger
The Proclaimer
|
