The Cup of Christ

Christ speaks of a “cup” in His Gethsemane prayer. He prays, “Remove this cup.” In John 18:11, our Lord rebukes Peter after Peter cuts of the ear of the slave, Malchus. And He says to Peter (do you remember?), “Put the sword into the sheath; the CUP which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” “Remove this cup.” “Shall I not drink [the cup]?”

My Wycliffe Commentary offers “various interpretations” of Christ’s “cup.” I don’t necessarily accept each of these interpretations. Nevertheless, I want you to hear them.

Some think Christ’s “cup” is the “fear of death.” This is one interpretation (though I don’t accept it myself). Another interpretation is others think it’s the “suffering of death” that is Christ’s cup. Still others say it’s the “possibility