How can God be merciful and gracious, and yet at the same time, He does not by any means justify those who are guilty? The answer to this mystery was not revealed to the Lord's people for centuries. But here we see the answer made clear! In this passage in Mark's Gospel, we see the love of Jesus for us.
The disciples clearly didn't understand any of what Jesus had said about His coming suffering and death, as is evident in James and John's question. They asked if they could have the seats of the guest of honor and the second-in-command in Jesus' Kingdom.
But Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking. They claimed they could drink the cup that He was about to drink, but they didn't understand. That cup was the full cup of the righteous wrath of God against sin. Jesus drank down the contents of that cup so that we would never have to do so.
Jesus loved us, and that is why He drank that cup and endured the baptism of God's fiery wrath. When we think of this, it should not only make us hate sin more, but it should also encourage us to love Jesus more.
This is the message of the Gospel. Let us rest in it, receive it, praise God for it, and find peace for our souls!
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