There’s a prophetic thread running from the Old Testament prophets to the Garden of Gethsemane that many Christians completely miss. It’s called “the cup of wrath.” Throughout the Old Testament, the “cup” is a symbol of God’s judgment against sin.

God tells Jeremiah: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations drink it.” (Jeremiah 25:15) The prophets describe this cup again and again. It represents the full weight of God’s righteous judgment. “In the hand of the Lord there is a cup… all the wicked of the earth shall drain it.” (Psalm 75:8)

But then something incredible happens in the New Testament. On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus prays: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” (Matthew 26:39) What cup was He talking about? The same cup the prophets warned about. The cup of God’s wrath against sin.

At the cross, Jesus did something astonishing. He drank the cup humanity deserved. “He was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.” (Isaiah 53:5) Because Jesus took the cup of wrath, those who trust Him receive something completely different: “I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:13)

This is the gospel: Jesus drank the cup of judgment so we could receive the cup of salvation.