◄ What Does John 18:11 Mean? ►

So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

John 18:11(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The kingdom of Christ is not of this world to be fought for with sword and spear, but could only be won though the shedding of the sinless blood of the Son of God: "For without blood there is no remission of sins." Only through His death and Resurrection, could Christ disarm the principalities and powers and make a public spectacle of the satanic realms; triumphing over them by the Cross.

Peter had earlier argued that Calvary must never happen and boasted that he would die for the Lord Jesus, but when he saw the menacing approach of the well-armed soldiers his cowardly reaction was to cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant and to then flee from this ungodly scene.

But spiritual battles are not won with carnal weapons of war, but through the power of God. It is only the power of God that can destroy satanic strongholds, and so the eternal Son of God said to Peter: "Put away your sword. Shall I not drink from the cup, which the Father has given Me?"

Christ was born to die, and for 33 years He set aside His glory which He had before the world was created, and lived the life of an obedient servant in utter dependence upon God. His perfect life would qualify Him to be the one and only Sin-Sacrifice for mankind, and to demonstrate how God intended all humanity to live - in utter dependence upon Him.

Christ came to fulfil God's will and to drain the cup of suffering and death which was given to Him by the Father. He marched steadily, obediently, and willingly through life to drink its bitter gall.

Should not we in willing obedience seek to do the same, knowing that Jesus not only died to save us, but also rose again to live His life through us?

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to learn the spiritual lessons that You would teach me and to live in willing obedience and utter dependence upon You. May I never fear the cup of difficult circumstances in my life, but live as You intended, learning obedience by the things that I may suffer so that in all things I may say: "Thy will not mine be done." In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.