Today’s reading from Jeremiah made me think of all the stories of poisoned cups; the poisoned chalice of Arthurian legend, the poisoned cup that kills Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, the many murder mystery plot-lines where the poisoned cup is switched for a non-poisoned one.  Socrates was sentenced to die by drinking hemlock, and he does so rather than be silenced and flee into exile.  The poisoned cup has a long history, and we still refer to a ‘poisoned chalice’ today if handed something which is going to be difficult.

The ‘cup of wrath’ which God sends to all the nations of the world is more than just ‘difficult’ or focused on one individual as with the examples above; it is catastrophic for those who drink from it. It is a terrible punishment, extending to ‘all the kingdoms of the earth’ (v.26).  Last to drink from the cup is Sheshach (Babylon).  There is no choice as to whether to drink from the cup or not; judgement will fall regardless; “See, I am beginning to bring on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished?” (v.29). Those who follow God ‘bear my Name’ are not exempted (see also 1 Peter 4:17; “It is time for judgement to begin with the family of God”) and those slain will be ‘from one end of the earth to the other’ (v.33).  We should not underestimate the consequences of sin, or blame anyone else for it; ultimately we are all accountable to God.  Like medicine which tastes bad, but makes us better, God’s righteous anger was necessary for people to be made whole.

This reading from Jeremiah is difficult, and challenging.  But remember there is another famous cup referred to in the Bible; the cup which Jesus drank from at the Last Supper.  In Matthew 26:27, Jesus tells His followers, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”.  Instead of us receiving the cup of God’s wrath, it is drunk by Jesus in our place.  He knew what a terrible thing this will be when He asks for the cup to be taken from Him in Matthew 26:39.  But the cup that Jesus offers us is filled with abundance, life and blessings.  That is not to say that we should not examine those parts of our lives which need to be made whole, or that we are exempt from suffering or judgement.  Just that the life that Jesus offers us will always outweigh those things.

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Take time to consider again what Jesus’ drinking from the cup of wrath has given each of us.