The Cup
E.A. Johnston illustrates the profound sacrifice of Jesus by paralleling it with a story of trust and obedience, urging believers to embrace their own challenges for the sake of the gospel.
In 'The Cup,' E.A. Johnston shares a powerful story of sacrifice and trust from an African pastor's experience, drawing a vivid parallel to Jesus' own obedience in Gethsemane. Through this devotional message, Johnston challenges believers to embrace their personal sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. The sermon invites listeners to reflect on the cost of discipleship and the grace needed to persevere in faith.
Full Transcript
I had a good friend for years who was an African pastor. He was a brother to me. In fact, when he would visit me in America, he would often introduce me as his brother, saying, although our skin is not the same, we are brothers nonetheless.
My pastor friend George went to be home with the Lord years ago, but he once told me a story that always has stayed with me. He said he went to a certain village in Africa to share the gospel, but the tribal chief would not allow you access into his territory until you first accepted and drank a cup of water that he handed you as a symbol of trust. The water was drawn from the dirty river that the natives bathed in and cleaned their clothes in.
Their animals would stand in the water. Cows and animals defecated in the river, and it was terribly unsanitary. My friend George knew the importance of getting the gospel into this closed village, and he also knew he would only be allowed access in if he took the cup of filthy water from the chief and thanked him for it and then drank it before him as a symbol of trust.
Pastor George knew if he did this, they would be open to hearing the gospel, but he also knew he would be putting his own health into very grave danger. I was sitting at the table with George as he related the story to me. As he tried to describe to me the awful stench of that cup of dirty water, as he brought it to his lips, he said when he looked down into the cup he saw something move in the dark water as if squirming.
George told me he closed his eyes and prayed to his God for the grace to swallow the filth, and as he did, he handed the empty cup back to the chief, who smiled and welcomed him to the village. As George told me that story, my mind ran back to another man two thousand years ago who was handed a cup in a garden that he had to drink. That cup was full of all my filth and wretched sins and in obedience to the Father, and for the sake of my soul, Jesus took that cup and drank down its dregs for me.
I know that Jesus took that cup for me. We all want the benefits and blessings of salvation in Christ Jesus, but how many of us truly are willing to face our own Gethsemane for the sake of souls in the spread of the gospel? My friend George did. He drank that cup so others could hear about the one who came down here so we could go up there.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the story of Pastor George
- The cultural significance of drinking the cup
- The challenge of obedience despite personal risk
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II
- Parallels between Pastor George and Jesus
- Jesus’ cup in Gethsemane as a symbol of sacrifice
- The spiritual significance of drinking the cup
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III
- The cost of gospel mission
- The call to personal sacrifice for others’ salvation
- Encouragement to embrace challenges for the kingdom
Key Quotes
“As George told me that story, my mind ran back to another man two thousand years ago who was handed a cup in a garden that he had to drink.” — E.A. Johnston
“Jesus took that cup and drank down its dregs for me.” — E.A. Johnston
“How many of us truly are willing to face our own Gethsemane for the sake of souls in the spread of the gospel?” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Be willing to accept difficult challenges as part of your faith journey.
- Trust God even when the path involves personal sacrifice or risk.
- Commit to sharing the gospel despite obstacles or discomfort.