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?