This is a metaphoric cup. It represents what one deserves for their personal or corporate behavior. A good life gives one a cup overflowing with goodness, and a bad life gives one a cup too bitter to drink. Our Lord, in His humanity, did not want to drink our cup. That cup was the bitter one.

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matt. 26:39

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14:36

“Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 

This cup represents the struggle to bring salvation to an undeserving sinful people. The cup is what the law demands. Mankind was created under the law. But we broke that law, and now live under the consequences of that action.

The law is the expression of our duty, allegiance, and love that mankind owes to God. It is a price too high for any man to pay. Yet, our Lord drank every last drop. He did this for us, to give us life. He magnified the law. He honored the whole law. In His obedience, He made the law honorable. His victory is our victory, for we were unable to drink the cup for ourselves.

It is for this act He has many crowns or diadems.

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. Rev. 19:12 

We in the USA have no kings or queens and never see crowns except in movies and other people’s histories. For us, they are meaningless oddities. However, for everyone else, they are meant to be memorials to triumphs and victories experienced by the royals. However, we have no king but Jesus, and all the crowns are His.

. . . we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:14b

He is now King of all, the King of creation, the King of redemption, the King of righteousness, the King of Kings. There are no other kings on the face of the earth that have power without His preordaining it. It is He who establishes kings and kingdoms. In the end, no one can oppose His will because He drank every drop of that cup.

Does this mean that the law has been done away with? Paul asked the same question.

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Rom. 3:31

There are penalties for those who violate laws. Can one open an artery without bleeding to death? Can one jump from a tall building without being killed? We can only accept the wisdom of God and submit to the one who wears the crowns.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 

He fulfilled every prophecy, promise, and type relating to what the Messiah would do and be. His humiliation bought our salvation.

Future Cup

There is yet one more cup to be served. It is served to the apostate church.

The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; Rev. 17:4

Render to her as she herself has rendered, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double draught for her in the cup she mixed. Rev. 18:6 

I don’t know what a double draught of the INQUISITION looks like, so it is necessary to remove all false teachings from our hearts.

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; Rev. 18:4