Elemental: S2 - Day 23
Hosea 11:8
“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I let you go, O Israel?”
There are two cups highlighted in the New Testament. The second one is called “the cup of God’s wrath.” You’ll remember we read about it in Revelation 14 yesterday. Appalling. Are we seriously tasked with telling people about this? Are we supposed to wander around warning the public that God is getting really angry and is just about to blow? “You better do what He says, or He will burn your life down. Can you smell the burgers, Fred?”
Let’s slow down a second and explore more of what the Bible teaches about God’s wrath. Paul writes about it in the first chapter of Romans. He starts by describing why he’s so excited about the Gospel of Christ. In no small part, it’s because the Gospel demonstrates the wrath of God. (1:18) Paul shares various scenarios where people turn away from God and go their own way. How does God react? Paul says, He gives them over, gives them up, abandons them, He lets them go. Wait. So, God isn’t striking them dead or visiting them with plagues? He sets them free to what they desire, even if it destroys them. Freedom.
Only once does scripture show the fullness of what Revelation 14 describes. In only one moment does someone fully and finally drink the cup of the wine of God’s wrath. It is Jesus on the cross. We have already watched Him suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane under the weight of His decision, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Then, as He is captured that night, one of His disciples attempts to rescue Him from the crowd. And after replacing someone’s ear, Jesus says to Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup?” (John 18:11)
We watch the cross intently, looking for the moment God rains down His wrath, expecting fury. Instead, we see a mirror image of the description in Romans 1. Jesus hangs, gasping for breath just before death, and calls out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) He could have said, “I feel you letting me go, giving me up, abandoning me to this cup.” Then He dies, not from some torturer inflicting damage on His body. He dies from the inside out because of His choice to drink the cup.
Pause…I know, I know. We’re almost there.
1. What makes you angry?
2. What is the most painful thing you have experienced?
3. Have you ever wanted to stop someone from choosing something you believed wasn’t good for them? How did that go?
“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I let you go, O Israel?”
There are two cups highlighted in the New Testament. The second one is called “the cup of God’s wrath.” You’ll remember we read about it in Revelation 14 yesterday. Appalling. Are we seriously tasked with telling people about this? Are we supposed to wander around warning the public that God is getting really angry and is just about to blow? “You better do what He says, or He will burn your life down. Can you smell the burgers, Fred?”
Let’s slow down a second and explore more of what the Bible teaches about God’s wrath. Paul writes about it in the first chapter of Romans. He starts by describing why he’s so excited about the Gospel of Christ. In no small part, it’s because the Gospel demonstrates the wrath of God. (1:18) Paul shares various scenarios where people turn away from God and go their own way. How does God react? Paul says, He gives them over, gives them up, abandons them, He lets them go. Wait. So, God isn’t striking them dead or visiting them with plagues? He sets them free to what they desire, even if it destroys them. Freedom.
Only once does scripture show the fullness of what Revelation 14 describes. In only one moment does someone fully and finally drink the cup of the wine of God’s wrath. It is Jesus on the cross. We have already watched Him suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane under the weight of His decision, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Then, as He is captured that night, one of His disciples attempts to rescue Him from the crowd. And after replacing someone’s ear, Jesus says to Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup?” (John 18:11)
We watch the cross intently, looking for the moment God rains down His wrath, expecting fury. Instead, we see a mirror image of the description in Romans 1. Jesus hangs, gasping for breath just before death, and calls out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) He could have said, “I feel you letting me go, giving me up, abandoning me to this cup.” Then He dies, not from some torturer inflicting damage on His body. He dies from the inside out because of His choice to drink the cup.
Pause…I know, I know. We’re almost there.
1. What makes you angry?
2. What is the most painful thing you have experienced?
3. Have you ever wanted to stop someone from choosing something you believed wasn’t good for them? How did that go?
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