“God Took My Cup On My Birthday”
I love how gently impactful God is when He speaks.
Before the sun rose on Easter Day, which happened to also be my birthday, I lay in bed with spiraling thoughts. You know, the thoughts that start off good, then within seconds, they turn bad.
Wanting to stop the negative thoughts from occurring, I found myself repeating the phrase, “take this cup from me.” This did not come from me – this is not a common sentence I use in my daily life. I believe it came from God.
The more I thought about “take this cup from me” is when God, in the most sublime way, connected Easter and my birthday! Not only did He offer me the gift of understanding on my birthday, He also reminded me of my identity.
In the Gospels, it describes how Jesus was pleading with His Father not to have to endure what was to come. The mockery, the pain, the betrayal, and the death.
(Matthew 26:39-42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11)
In all four books, the common symbol used is a cup.
There is another historical event recorded in the Old Testament that incorporates the same symbol: a cup. It is found in Genesis 42-45, specifically chapter 44.
This scripture is weighted with significance and meaning for me because it was given to me for encouragement by a dearly beloved ministry host/mentor in South Africa. I was in the midst of a difficult leadership decision as the team leader and he noticed. To encourage and support me, he read Genesis 44 out loud to me, pointing out how Benjamin did not deserve the punishment that came from the silver cup being found in his sack of grains.
I wept because I immediately placed myself in Benjamin’s shoes (probably sandals). As a leader, I felt like I was experiencing punishment that I did not deserve.
Today, after rereading the story of Joseph and his reunion with his family, I sat in awe of the similarities woven throughout the passage that connects to the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection! It was beautiful – more beautiful than the sunrise I was hoping to see this morning.
As I sat, reflecting on everything I had just learned, a few questions can to my mind:
-How does this connect to my story, to my life?
-Which character do I best relate to?
-Do I have the cup or does Jesus have the cup?
Minutes went by and I have to be honest – as the director to my own play, I gave myself the best role. I was Benjamin, the brother who was deeply loved by his father, was protected by his older brothers, and most importantly, was innocent. But as I held the imaginary cup in my hands, I knew I had casted myself as the wrong character.
This realization came when I questioned my perceived identity. My self-identity was being driven by the desire to prove and justify myself as the innocent one.
However, it is not true. I am not innocent. I am guilty of the full weight of all my sins.
The only one who is innocent, blameless, and spotless is Jesus.
Not only does Jesus bare the cup, the symbol of undeserved punishment; He is the true source of my identity!
My identity is in Jesus Christ alone.
Though I want to claim that I am strong enough to hold the cup, the truth is that I am not.
Though I want to claim the innocence of a sinless life, I cannot.
Though I want my plans and my will to be done, I will choose to strive to live out words Jesus said after falling to the ground, asking for the cup to be taken from Him, “Yet not what I will, but what You will”.
Happy Easter, everyone! He is RISEN!
And thank you, God, for the best birthday present ever – the reminder that my identity is strictly in You and You alone!
