What did Jesus mean when He said, 'let this cup pass from me'?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 26:36–46 recounts Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, before He was betrayed, arrested, and faced the agony of His death. He prays to the Father three times to “let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44). The "cup" is a metaphor for the suffering and anguish He was about to endure. Other passages also present the cup metaphorically (Mark 10:38–39; John 18:11). Earlier, during the Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples, He had given them the cup of wine representing His blood (Matthew 26:27–29). He infused the cup with new meaning that represented the new covenant. In doing this, He drew on God’s promise in Jeremiah 31:31–34 of a new covenant with His people. Just as the old covenant required the shedding of blood (Exodus 24:8), so did the new (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus, as fully God and fully man (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7; Colossians 2:9) dreaded the suffering in His human nature. Even so, He deferred to God’s will in His Gethsemane prayer, demonstrating His readiness to fully drink the cup of suffering for the new covenant (cf. Philippians 2:8). Scripture shows there was no other way to redeem and save humanity than for Jesus to drink the cup of torment (Isaiah 53:3–6; Hebrews 9:22). Jesus’ prayer to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane shows us the tremendous sacrifice He made. Christ modeled deference to the Father’s will in the most severe of trials.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Exodus 24:8 records the ratification by blood of the Mosaic covenant: “And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” The new covenant also required the shedding of blood—Christ’s.
• Jeremiah 31:33 presents God’s promise of a new covenant, based on Christ’s sacrifice: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” In drinking from the cup during the Last Supper, Jesus draws on the promise found in this passage, declaring a new covenant ratified with His blood. To purchase our redemption, Jesus had to sacrifice Himself on the cross. He drank a bitter cup to save us from our sins.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Matthew 26:39 recounts Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, just before He was delivered to authorities to be crucified: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” The "cup" is a symbolic reference to the suffering and anguish Jesus was about to endure. Jesus would be required to drink the entirety of the cup, and, knowing how bitter and difficult it would be, He prays to let the cup pass from Him, if possible. In the same prayer, Jesus adds, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will," which shows His willingness to fully participate in God’s plan and submit Himself to the Father’s will.
• In Mark 10:38, Jesus answers John and James’ request about being placed in a position of authority in God’s kingdom by saying, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” This is the same metaphorical “cup” of suffering Jesus references in His prayer to the Father in Matthew 26:39. Jesus drank from it to give humankind eternal life.
• Hebrews 2:17 affirms the suffering Jesus underwent: “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Because of Jesus’ human nature, He dreaded the suffering He would experience before and during the crucifixion. This is why he prays to let the cup “pass” from Him; but even so, He qualifies that by submitting to God’s will. Hebrews 12:2 further explains that, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The cup referring to His blood that Jesus shared with His disciples during their last Passover meal together was a cup of honor and a cup of celebration of the new covenant that would save humankind. But it was also a cup of suffering. It represented the torment Jesus would endure, the blood He would shed for us, and the instituting of the new covenant. Jesus once asked two of His disciples who wanted the honor of ruling with Him in heaven if they could drink from the same cup (Mark 10:25–40). All Christians should think about our Lord’s question. One day, we’ll face a choice between compromising our faith or staying true to Christ and drinking from the cup of suffering (Matthew 5:10–12; John 15:18–20; 2 Timothy 3:12). It may be job loss, relational loss, social ostracism, or even physical harm. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The cross means death; following Jesus means we are willing to die—physically for our faith, spiritually to our sinful desires, and also to self as we learn to live for God instead of ourselves (John 13:34–35; Romans 6:6–11; Philippians 2:3–11). Peter encouraged, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12–13; cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3–7). Similarly, Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). We can follow the example of Jesus. We need not seek suffering, but neither do we need to fear it or shy away from it. Whatever our cup of suffering is, we can trust that our Lord will be with us in it (John 16:33). We can entrust our hearts and lives fully to the God who loves us and who works all according to His good purposes (Romans 8:28–30).

UNDERSTAND

• The "cup" Jesus refers to symbolizes the suffering and anguish He would endure for the new covenant.
• Jesus’ prayer reflects His human dread of the suffering ahead but His full submission to God’s will.
• Jesus’ willingness to "drink the cup" models how believers should defer to God’s will, even in the most difficult trials.

REFLECT

• In what areas of your life do you struggle with submitting to God’s will, especially when facing difficult situations?
• How can you find strength in Jesus’ example of submitting to the Father’s will during times of personal suffering?
• How can “drinking the cup” of suffering shape your response to challenges in your life?

ENGAGE

• How can we help others who are facing suffering?
• How does Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane challenge us to trust God more fully in our trials?
• How can we face trials and difficulties with faith while still desiring for these difficulties to pass?