Plenary Session Two: “The Cup Of God’s Wrath” – Mez McConnell
Mez McConnell is the Senior Pastor of Niddrie Community Church. Mez is an Irishman with an English accent who lives in Scotland. He was raised in foster care in England having been abandoned by his parents at the age of 2. He presently ministers as a pastor in Edinburgh. He is the founder and director of 20Schemes Ministries.
Mez began by outlining for us the current condition of the Christian church in Scotland. The state church, the Church of Scotland, has some good in it, but also has a great many people standing in her pulpits saying things that are terribly foolish and unhelpful. One Scottish minister recently claimed that Jesus was crushed in the wheels of history and died disappointed, disillusioned and in failure. To bring clarity and to encourage us, Mez directed us to John 18:1-11.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:1–11 ESV)
What does this text say about the death of Jesus Christ?
It says first of all that Jesus was not in hiding – nor had he been. Many times people tried to capture Jesus but always we would read “but his hour had not come”. Jesus was not on the lamb – he was always in public, always doing what he was called to do. If you are hiding from the police you don’t go to your regular hangouts – and this, according to verse 2 – was a regular hangout for Jesus. He was where he wanted to be!
Jesus was not surprised. He knew who was to betray him – he knew who were his and who were not his. Jesus knew ALL that was to happen:
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” (John 18:4)
Jesus stepped forward and said “I am he” or literally “I am”. Jesus makes a bold claim in the language of Exodus 3. I am.
To make a claim of that sort, he must have been nuts or he must have been God – he must be who said that he was. He must be God. If you aren’t bothered by that claim then you are not paying attention. Nobody gets to run into Jesus Christ and not be changed. People left the presence of Jesus transformed or offended. So should you.
“God is not to be played with – he is not to be mocked. Those who think we will wink and nod our way into heaven are in for a terrible shock.”
Jesus is King and before this king all people will bow.
Jesus remains in full control of his people. In John 6:39 Jesus had said:
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. (John 6:39 ESV)
This was the Scripture that was fulfilled in John 18:8-9:
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
Jesus always stands up for his people. On the last day, he will speak to the Father on our behalf. That’s the Gospel! A calm, majestic and Sovereign King stands between. Praise the Lord! (Actually, he said, “Now I’ll have some of that with chips, yah?!”)
Peter of course, had to stick his beak in. He saw it all, but he missed the point.
“So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:1–11 ESV)
Jesus offered to go freely with these men in order that his people might go free – again, that is a picture of the Gospel.
Jesus took the cup. He drank the judgment and wrath of God for his people – TO THE FULL. That was his intention. That was the plan and that was his purpose on that day.
Some people don’t like that – they say it smacks of child abuse. But its necessary. There are times when to love we must do harm – or apparent harm. The disease is horrific and the cure is severe – that’s the truth of the cross.
God is angry with sin and angry with sinners. God cannot allow it in his presence. Jesus needed to face and absorb and satisfy the wrath of God. He paid it all. When Jesus was on the cross he faced the full wrath of a holy God – do you know the only thought scarier than that? The thought that if you aren’t in Christ then you will face that same wrath on your own; with no one to stand up for you and no one to stand between you and Him who judges you.
God takes our sin seriously. If you think he doesn’t then we haven’t understood the Gospel and we haven’t understood this passage here. For the Christian the real deep suffering of the soul – that fear – is ended when we put our trust in Christ as Lord.
Jesus drank the cup – to the dregs - so we don’t have to.
So was Jesus crushed like a rag doll in the wheels of history? Did he die in failure and despair? No. Here’s the truth:
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 ESV)
That’s the truth – that’s the Gospel; thanks be to God.
So shall we stand with the mob – or stand with the Lord? It may look like the enemies of the Gospel have overwhelming force on the ground, but let me assure you, Christ is in control. Keep standing with Jesus – he will never let us down. Amen.
The summary above represents my best efforts to recollect and capture the essence of Mez's presentation. Where quotations are exact they are indicated as such. Otherwise they should be understood as rough representations. The audio and video for this session will be posted on the TGC Atlantic website immediately following the conference.
May God Alone Be Glorified,
Paul Carter