The Love of God: The Cup the Father Gave Me
John 18 begins the passion narrative.
Jesus is arrested. Denied. Tried.
But even here, the love of God is on display.
Not in weakness, but in sovereign control.
I am he
When the soldiers come to arrest Jesus, He asks:
"Who is it you want?"
They answer, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus says:
"I am he."
And they draw back and fall to the ground.
Even in His arrest, Jesus demonstrates divine authority.
The love of God does not go to the cross as a victim. It goes willingly, in control.
Shall I not drink the cup?
Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant.
Jesus rebukes him:
"Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Jesus is not rescued by force.
He drinks the cup of suffering because the Father gave it to Him.
The love of God submits to the Father's will, even when that will leads to the cross.
Peter denies Jesus
Peter follows at a distance.
Three times he is asked if he knows Jesus.
Three times he denies.
The rooster crows.
Peter fails.
But Jesus does not.
The love of God does not depend on our faithfulness. It holds even when we fall.
My kingdom is not of this world
Pilate asks Jesus:
"Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus answers:
"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest."
Jesus is a king.
But not the kind the world expects.
His kingdom is not established by force.
It is established by sacrifice.
The love of God builds a kingdom not through power but through the cross.
Final exhortation
The love of God in John 18 is this:
Christ goes to the cross willingly.
He drinks the cup the Father gave Him.
He is a king, but His kingdom is not of this world.
And even when we deny Him, He does not deny us.
Do not think the cross was a mistake.
Do not think Jesus was overpowered.
He laid down His life because He chose to, and that choice is the greatest act of love the world has ever seen.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You for the love of Christ that chose the cross. Thank You that He drank the cup You gave Him so that we might be saved. Forgive us for our denials and failures, and strengthen us to follow Him faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen.