32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” - Mark 14:32-36 (ESV)
The night Jesus was betrayed, he went to pray in the garden. He knew the cross was before him. And as he cried tears of blood, he prayed, “Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will but what you will.”
The cup was the wrath of God. The wrath that we deserve for our sin. And Jesus knew that he would take that wrath on the cross. But, Jesus submitted to his Father’s will and he drank that cup for you and me on the cross. He took the place that we deserved to make us eternally right with God. And in that moment of Jesus death, the veil of the temple was torn, a physical act signifying that we now have the ability and confidence to enter into God’s presence because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Every prayer and plea for an intercessor from the Old Testament prophets was then revealed to be answered through Christ: the “yes” of every promise. Praise God that the cup was not removed!
This song is celebrating what Jesus has done for us. He drank the cup of God’s wrath we deserved on the cross. He fulfilled all of the law and prophets, living a blameless life, giving us his righteousness. And because of these things, now by faith, he has removed our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. The cup was not removed. The Law was not removed. But, our sins are removed. The only response to this good news is to praise him!
