What God Taught Me This Week

WE ARE LIVING BETWEEN REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION.....Did you know the Last Supper included more than one cup? Most of us grew up hearing about "the cup" that Jesus shared with His disciples at the Last Supper. What I discovered during my study of Matthew 26 is that they were celebrating what is called the Passover Seder, which is the Jewish traditional order of service for the Passover meal. During this meal there were actually four cups, and each cup represented a promise God made to His people when He brought Isreal out of Egypt.

These cups were presented at a specific order during the Passover service, and each cup was shared at different moments throughout the meal, representing the promises God made when He brought Israel out of Egypt. These promises are found in Exodus 6:6-7. At certain points during the Seder, a blessing would be spoken, and the disciples would drink together. There were four separate cups.

The first cup was the Cup of Sanctification, representing God setting His people apart. Before God delivers us, He first calls us out and separate us for Himself. The second cup was the Cup of Deliverance, representing God bringing His people out of bondage. For Israel, this meant being freed from slavery in Egypt. Spiritually for us, it represents God delivering us from the bondage of Sin. The third cup was the Cup of Redemption. Redemption means that a price has been paid to buy someone back. During the Last Supper, when Jesus lifted the cup and said, "This is my blood of the new covenant" He was revealing that His blood would become the price that redeems humanity.

But what is fascinating is what Jesus says next..."I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:29)..This statement points to the fourth cup, often called was the Cup of Restoration or Praise...which represents the completion of God's work when His people are fully restored to Him. Jesus did not drink that final cup that night...Instead, He pointed forward to a future moment when He would drink it again with His people in the Kingdom of God.

This means something very important for us today. Spiritually speaking, we are living between the third cup and the fourth cup.....Through Jesus Christ we have already experienced sanctification, deliverance, and redemption,, but the final restoration has not yet happened.

Until then, every time we take Holy communion we remember the Cup of redemption. The Cross has already happened, the resurrection has already happened, but the great celebration of the Wedding feast with Christ, our Bridegroom is still ahead of us. And one day, when we sit at the table with Him, the final cup (cup number four) will be lifted and everything God promised will be complete. Halleujah!! Until then, we walk in faith, remembering what He has done, and trusting Him for what is still to come. The price has been paid, but the celebration is still coming...Have you received your invitation yet? Have you sent in your RSVP? Has your name been recorded in the "Book of Life"...And Will you be there in your royal wedding garments??? I'll be there!!