Drinking from an Overflowing Cup: Lessons from Peter, Judas, Jesus, and Job

Most would rather push an overflowing cup away than drink from it. If we know our life depends on what is in the cup, we might move toward it rather than away. Such was the cup Jesus drank from. Let me set the scene.

When Judas came to betray Jesus with Romans and Jews in tow, Simon Peter whipped out his sword and cut off poor Malchus’ ear. Jesus reattached the ear, then turned to Peter to ask, “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11) He didn’t wait for an answer. I imagine Peter would have answered, “No. I’m ready to fight to defend you so this doesn’t happen.” That is an odd statement.

Although the NIV translates it as “I am he,” Jesus twice identified Himself to the soldiers as “I am.” That’s reminiscent of Exodus 3:14 when God told Moses, “Tell Pharaoh that I Am sent you.” In other words, I’m the God who sent Moses, defeated Pharaoh and rescued Israel. Those who came to arrest Jesus got the message…and fell down on the ground. Why did Peter think Jesus needed his clumsy sword skills to protect Him? Peter had seen Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, astound crowds with His teaching, and walk on water. Further, Jesus twice said, “I am.” which fit nicely with Peter’s pronouncement, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Could it be that Peter wasn’t protecting Jesus so much as himself? Could it be that Peter didn’t want to drink the cup the Father had prepared for him? That seems to be the case: later, Peter denied Jesus three times to protect himself from an unknown danger. Not now, not this way.

Peter and Jesus both had overflowing cups in front of them. The cups would mess up their lives, ministry, hopes, and dreams in both cases. No wonder Peter tried to push it aside. The greater wonder is that Jesus drank it willingly.

Job drank from the cup

I’m reminded of Job’s words in Job 2:10. “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Jesus answered yes; Peter (and Judas?) answered no. Essentially, they said, “We believe in You and who You are, but we don’t like your methods. We have a better way.”

It’s not that Peter and Judas were afraid of trials. They were willing to do difficult things to accomplish things their way. Judas betrayed his friend and Lord; Peter cut off someone’s ear with Roman soldiers as witnesses. Life was not easier because of their decisions. But they weren’t willing to let Jesus die.

Job didn’t have a choice. He drank the cup of human suffering and made his statement after his situation was beyond repair. His children were dead, his home and business destroyed, his servants killed, and his herds stolen. He could either resent it or accept it. He chose to accept it.

Jesus accepted His cup of suffering as well…because His Father in heaven gave it to Him. As God, Jesus was in control of handing out cups, not receiving them. But things changed when He gave up equality with God, made Himself nothing, and humbled Himself before death itself. (Philippians 2:6-8) In His current state – which is very much like our own – He submitted to God’s plan and drank the cup, overflowing as it was.

More like Job than Jesus

Most are more like Job than Jesus. We drink from the cup of human suffering when it is forced on us, but we do not drink from it willingly. We make the best of it, but we would avoid it if we could. Some, like Peter and Judas, are more assertive in their resistance. They’re willing to betray friends or go to war to avoid the way of emptiness, humility, and the cross. A cup full of suffering makes life messy and unpredictable.

Jesus realized that the messiness was temporary. Sorrow lasts through the night time, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) And it was for joy that Jesus endured the cross. (Heb. 12:2) You might say that drinking from an overflowing cup – as messy as that can be – is the path to joy. But it sure doesn’t feel that way.

Sometimes, our cups overflow with goodness, love, and joy. In those times, let the overflow wash over you and soak every fiber of your being. At other times, our cups overflow with sadness and loss. As before, let it wash over you and mark you with a stain if it will. But receive the cup of suffering from the Father as readily as you receive the cup of blessing. After all, what else can we do but “accept the cup the Father has given us?”