(Jhn) 18:11, 25, 39-40 CJB “Yeshua said to Kefa, “Put your sword back in its scabbard! This is the cup the Father has given me; am I not to drink it?” Meanwhile, Shim‘on Kefa was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Aren’t you also one of his talmidim?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” However, you have a custom that at Passover I set one prisoner free. Do you want me to set free for you the ‘king of the Jews’?” But they yelled back, “No, not this man but Bar-Abba!” (Bar-Abba was a revolutionary.)”

Drink the cup of discipleship. That is the call every man must face when he claims to follow Jesus Christ.

Jesus knew His cup.

It was the Father’s will.

It was suffering.

It was sacrifice.

It was the shedding of His blood for sinners.

Jesus did not come to preserve His earthly life. He came to give His life as a ransom for many.

Jesus Drank the Cup of the Father’s Will

The cup given to Jesus was not random suffering.

It was appointed obedience.

He would spill His blood as the sacrifice for sin. Through His death, those pardoned by His blood would be bought back from condemnation and granted eternal life with God.

Jesus did not resist the Father’s will.

He submitted.

He obeyed.

He drank the cup fully.

This is where discipleship begins.

Not with self-protection.

Not with personal control.

Not with comfort.

But with surrender to the Father’s will.

Drink the Cup of Discipleship Without Denying Jesus

Peter had once said he was ready.

The disciples had confidently claimed they could drink the cup Jesus would drink.

But when the moment came, Peter stood warming himself by the fire and denied being one of Jesus’ disciples.

That denial most likely came from fear.

Fear of persecution.

Fear of being exposed.

Fear of losing control.

That same fear still tempts men today.

Many men say they believe in Jesus but hesitate to be publicly identified with Him. They may speak His name in church, but remain silent at work. They may claim allegiance to Christ privately, but avoid obedience publicly when hostility rises.

That is not the path of a true disciple.

To drink the cup of discipleship is to belong to Jesus openly, even when it costs us.

Choosing Barabbas Instead of the King

John 18 also shows the crowd choosing Barabbas over Jesus.

Barabbas was a revolutionary against Israel’s earthly ‘king.’

The people chose a rebel against an earthly ruler while rejecting the true King sent from heaven Who was to rule them forever.

That is the heart of fallen man.

We reject God’s King because we want to remain king over ourselves.

We want to direct our own lives so we reject all kings.

We want control over our schedules, money, reputation, decisions, ambitions, and comfort.

But discipleship means Jesus is King.

Not in theory.

In reality.

The True Disciple Follows the True King

A true disciple does not merely admire Jesus.

A true disciple follows Jesus.

That means:

• Trusting His blood for pardon.
• Submitting to His Word.
• Obeying what He commanded.
• Representing His character to the world.
• Proclaiming His gospel to the lost.
• Pursuing people as fishers of men.

Jesus committed Himself fully to the Father’s will.

Now He calls His disciples to do the same.

We do not drink His cup of atoning sacrifice. Only Jesus could do that.

But we do drink the cup of proclaiming that sacrifice.

We die to self.

We take up our cross.

We follow Him.

Run Today’s Play

• Identify where fear has kept you silent about Jesus.
• Refuse to preserve your comfort at the expense of obedience.
• Confess Christ publicly, not just privately.
• Submit one area of control to Jesus today: your work, money, schedule, reputation, or relationships.
• Pursue one person with gospel concern.
• Drink the cup of discipleship by choosing Jesus as King over fear, comfort, and self-rule.

Men, the question is not whether Jesus is worthy to follow.

He is.

The question is whether we will deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him as true disciples.