• The Cup of Sanctification – based on God’s statement, “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians”;
• The Cup of Judgement or Deliverance– based on God’s statement, “I will deliver you from slavery to them”;
• The Cup of Redemption – based on God’s statement, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm”;
• The Cup of Restoration – based on God’s statement, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.”

During His last meal with His disciples Yeshua mentioned two cups.

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Luke 22:17-18  And taking the cup, giving thanks, He said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I shall certainly not drink of the fruit of the vine until the reign of Elohim comes.”

With this first cup Yeshua, the Nazarene from Nazareth, made a Nazarite vow, as described in Numbers 6.  This is a vow to separate oneself unto the Father, dedicated to do His will.  This first cup would set the last day in action.  Yeshua was set apart for God’s special use and purpose – sanctification.

Yeshua knew that His walk with these 12 disciples that became like brothers to Him, part of His family, was drawing to an end.

Looking at His beloved disciples at the threshold of Pesach, recalling their ancestors’ deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, how they were enslaved again because of sin, compromise and wrong decisions, and were now suffering under the oppression of Rome, Yeshua knew that they were longing for deliverance from their physical slavery.

Giving them this cup, He was offering them much more than just deliverance from Rome, saying to them:  “Slavery might be your portion as a result of the choices that you have made, but even in physical slavery, there is hope of spiritual freedom.  I can offer you a way to rid yourselves of the burden of slavery; a way to move your focus from the physical to the spiritual; a way to sanctification.  This is the way to set yourselves apart for God, to become His holy vessels, His image bearers – not because you are experiencing His freedom and goodness, but despite the oppression and slavery you find yourselves in.”

The second cup Yeshua offered after the meal:

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Luke 22:20  Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shed for you.”

While sharing His last meal with His friends, Yeshua was very emotional.  One by one He looked them in the eyes, being aware that Judas would betray Him, Peter would deny knowing Him and they would all be upset, insecure and even scared after His death.  However, Yeshua realised that the uncertainty would bind them together.

He lifted  the second cup and said:  “Drink this, for tonight I am making a new covenant with you. What I am about to face is dreadful, but I am willingly entering the finish line for you.”

With this cup of Judgement or Deliverance, Jesus is reminding them that if they choose to be part of His covenant, the judgement would be overshadowed by deliverance.  “You had a taste of the bread of the Word, the Living bread, now I offer you My deliverance.  Embrace Me and My gift, live by the principles I taught you and had penned down through Moses and you will not fear judgement, but marvel in My deliverance.”

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Luke 22:41-42  And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and falling on His knees He was praying, saying, “Father, if it be Your counsel, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My desire, but let Yours be done.”

These words introduce the next step, i.e. Yeshua facing the fact of the process of redemption during which he would have to drink the cup of Redemption that was planned even before all things – the whole of creation – were formed through Him (John 1:3).

This cup was filled with all the transgressions from the past, through the present to the unforeseen future – from the day of judgement after the fall in the garden of Eden into.  All sins are included, not just the obvious, harsh sins, like murder, theft, and rape, but also our hidden sins like hatred, gossip, slander, jealousy, envy, unkind thoughts and so much more, for in the unseen we hide a multitude of sins.

This cup of redemption was filled and ran over. It is not a small cup filled with delightful, sweet wine, instead it is a cup that Yeshua would have to empty sip by sip.  To take away the sins and not just cover them, Yeshua had to consume the sins of His creation, make them part of Himself.  Knowing that sin caused separation from God, Yeshua did not want to endure even a split second without the presence of His loving Father.  However, for the sake of His creation He was willing to do it, to make sure that sin would NEVER cause permanent separation from GOD’s presence.  Yeshua was willing to die for not only a handful that loved Him, but even for those who rejected Him, those who physically mistreated Him and those who would turn their backs on Him in the future.

This is a cup that no human would be able to drink and even the Son of God knew it would be terrifying, yet He still proclaimed:  Father, if it be Your counsel, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My desire but let Yours be done.  By willingly taking the cup, Yeshua submitted His freedom, His life and will to His Father, being ready to release His spirit to Him as well.

With the drinking of the cup Yeshua (re)committed Himself to the process – the drinking of the cup had started, no longer was it only visible, it was touching His lips.  Freedom was gone and He tasted slavery and captivity. Yeshua found Himself in the hands of His chosen people, who showed no sign of mercy, yet He could still show mercy.  Peter was not ready to surrender yet, but in love Yeshua healed Malchus and told Peter that it was time for the cup that Father gave Him: the cup of redemption.

Thus Yeshua found Himself in one of the most horrifying positions imaginable: in the hands of religious men, men chosen to lead the nation in the ways of our Father.  The earthly high priest would judge the true High Priest as Yeshua was sent to Caiaphas.  In the presence of Caiaphas the first sip of this dreadful cup would cross the threshold of Yeshua’s lips as Caiaphas declared that it was better for one man to die for the nation to live.

As Yeshua did not sin, Caiaphas could not condemn Him to death, and Yeshua was taken to Pilate.  He could not find any guilt in Him and asked the people gathered there to decide.  At this moment Yeshua’s people finally turned against Him and called for His death.  The apple of His eye, His chosen and beloved people, rejected Yeshua.  This would not be counted against them as He willingly took this sin upon Himself by taking this sip in love, and without regret.

Yeshua was then handed over the be flogged, crowned with a crown of thorns and a dressed in a purple robe.  He took all of this without claiming innocence and demanding a fair hearing, enduring this on behalf of mankind.  Yeshua therefore took another sip of this cup, while looking into the eyes of His beloved people who were glaring back at Him in hate with fists in the air shouting “Crucify HIM!”

On the preparation day of the Passover, about the sixth hour (John 19:14), the chief priest declared Caesar as the sovereign of Israel and demanded the death of the Sovereign of the universe.  Thus Yeshua took yet another sip of this cup of Redemption with love that knows no boundaries.

As the day broke, He was led away to be crucified in the middle of two criminals, two sinners.  Because the sin of all creation, including theirs, was heavier on His shoulders than the stake He had to carry, Yeshua could identify with them and their sins.  The burden of the sins of the world was unbearable, yet He was willing to take another sip of this cup.

As pilgrims of the Passover festival walked through the entrances to the temple grounds and the daily morning sacrifice was brought, the LAMB of God was led to the “slaughter” place.  Hanging on the cross, looking at all the people around Him, Yeshua willingly took another sip of this dreadful cup and said: Father, forgive them!  Hanging on the cross, not only enduring physical pain, but carrying the weight of the sin of creation on His shoulders, knowing that that sin would soon cause separation between Him and His father, Yeshua still reached out two criminals hanging beside Him and embraced the one that turned to Him in love, another lost son returned home.

By continuing to drink from the cup of Redemption, the Son of God displayed the character of a loving, merciful God: willing to lay down His life for His own creation, not reacting to the wrongful insults.

And then the moment arrived that broke Yeshua’s heart, the moment that He knew He would not be able to handle.  The presence of God left Him, sin tore apart the unity.  Able to handle the torture, the mocking, the burden of Sin, this Yeshua could not handle.  He cried out with a loud voice : “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

With this He took the last sip of the cup of Redemption.

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Yet this was not the end.  Restoration was still needed – Yeshua could not die without restoring the divide between the Father and His creation.

With the third cup finished, Yeshua was thirsty. It was time for the final cup – the cup of Restoration.  On the cross He was offered at least two drinks, the first vinegar mixed with myrhh, a drink that was offered as a final act of humanity to the one on the cross to dull the pain.  This cup Yeshua refused; He needed to endure every grain of pain.  His love for His creation was bigger than the pain He had to endure.

The second drink offered to Him was vinegar only.  This was given to help them endure to the end. He was not taking any shortcuts or any easy way out.

Everyone in Jerusalem was preparing a Pesach lamb for the Passover that was about to start, remembering the lamb slaughtered in Egypt, a lamb that had lived with them for a while, like Yeshua did, a lamb that offered His life so the firstborn could live.

As the wine, red like blood, was sucked up in a sponge, put in a bunch of hyssop on a stick and offered to Yeshua, creation was crying out:  Do you not recognise Him?  This is the one you have been expecting since the birth of Adam and Eve’s firstborn.  This is the ultimate Passover Lamb!  All that enter through His blood will abide in the house of our Father, forever!

With this last sip of the last cup, Yeshua yet again extended a hand in love, mercy and kindness.  With this He said: “Now we are in the process of restoration.  IT IS DONE!”

All to the glory of our Creator, our Father, our King!