What is the “https://emilybrydon.com/how-many-cups-is-16-oz/” that is referred to in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Y’ehoshua (Jesus) said, “Take this cup away from Me” and what can we learn from His example?
Mark 14:35 & 36 “And He Y’ehoshua (Jesus) went forward a little, and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You; TAKE AWAY THIS CUP FROM ME; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Let us begin with some background. We are in Jerusalem on a Thursday afternoon. It is a day of preparation for the Pascal (Passover) meal. When you see the word “Pascal”, it means “of or connected with the Passover”. This is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb is customarily sacrificed.
Y’ehoshua (Jesus) sends two of His disciples, Peter and John, saying “Go and make ready for us the Passover, that we may eat.” and they say to Him “Where do You want us to go and make preparations that You may eat the Passover?” And Y’ehoshua says to them “Behold, when you are entered into the city, there shall you meet a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he shall enter in. And you shall say to the goodman of the house, “The Teacher says: “My time is at hand; where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”” and he will himself show you a large upper room readily furnished: there make ready for us.”
The disciples went forth and came into the city and did as Y’ehoshua appointed them; and found as He said to them: and they made ready the Passover.
It is now Thursday evening after sunset, the beginning of the Jewish Friday. Now when evening comes, Y’ehoshua arrives with the twelve disciples.
At the appropriate time He is reclining with the twelve at the table. He says to them” With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say to you, I will not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
Y’ehoshua partakes of the Pascal meal with the twelve apostles and rebukes their jealousy. During the Pascal meal, Y’ehoshua washes the feet of His disciples. Also, at the Pascal meal, Y’ehoshua points out Judas as the betrayer. After the departure of Judas, Y’ehoshua warns the disciples (Peter in particular) against desertion, while all protest their loyalty.
Y’ehoshua then institutes the memorial of eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine (Luke 22:18). This, we have come to call “The Lord’s Supper”. It is during this time, I believe, that The Lord gives His farewell discourse to His disciples, as recorded in John 14.
Then in John 14:31, in the latter part of the verse, we read “Let us go from here.” So then, in Chapter 15, we have the discourse on the way to Gethsemane, possibly on the street as they walk. Here He speaks of the fact that He is the true vine, and His Father is the husbandman.
In chapter 16 of John, and the first verse, Y’ehoshua says, “These things have I spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.” In verse 7, He says, “…I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
Possibly near Gethsemane, Y’ehoshua prays His intercessory prayer that is recorded in John chapter 17. Chapter 18, verse 1, carries on to say: “When Y’ehoshua had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, Himself and His disciples. Luke tells us this was His (Y’ehoshua’s) custom.
It is quite possible, that many an evening was spent having supper together, Y’ehoshua and His disciples. During and after supper, Y’ehoshua would tell them a parable and teach them the things of the kingdom of God, and finish the evening praying on the Mount of Olives.
You can imagine it is getting late in the night. Here in Mark 14:26, we read”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives”. Going on to verse 32, we continue,” And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Verse 33, “And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be grieved (greatly troubled) and deeply distressed”. The majority of the disciples remained close to the entrance of the garden while Y’ehoshua took Peter, James, and John farther in with Him.
Now look, if you will, at verse 34, “Then He said to them “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, (even) unto death. Stay here and watch.” Here the soul: the will, the emotions, and the mind of Y’ehoshua Christ are full of sorrow and greatly distressed. Here the humanity of Y’ehoshua Christ comes to grips with the prospect and the reality of the impending suffering of the cross and more importantly the separation from God.
In Psalms 42:6, The Psalmist records: “O my God, my soul is cast down within me;” Have you ever felt the void, the empty feeling of being separated from God? For the Christian to be separated, that is, out of fellowship with God, is indeed an exceeding sorrowful and deeply distressing time.
Now we come to our focal text. In Mark 14:35 and 36, the Bible says, “And He (Y’ehoshua) went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, (NOW HERE IS THE MEANING OF THE CUP!) The HOUR might pass from Him. Verse 36, And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You. Take away THIS cup from Me; nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.”
Y’ehoshua went a little farther into the garden, farther than Peter, James, and John. Luke tells us that it was about a stone’s throw. Y’ehoshua then kneeled down, fell on His face on the ground and prayed that the HOUR might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto (for) You. Take away THIS cup from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. This was the first time He prayed in the garden that night. The first time He prayed that if it were possible, The HOUR might pass from Him.
Y’ehoshua was praying in the present tense. He said “Take THIS cup away from Me. Y’ehoshua was NOT praying that the “cup” of the cross be taken away from Him. That “cup” was in the future! He did NOT pray “take THAT cup away from me”. As we heard earlier, in John, chapter 16, verse 7…, let us look at that. John 16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I go not away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you”. Y’ehoshua had just told His disciples on the way to the garden that it was to their advantage that He goes away.
