Holy Communion - A  Cup of Blessing or a Cup of Curse

By Nick Bibile

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Holy communion is a sacred ordinance, many churches will not teach the importance of this sacred action. That’s why we see people taking holy communion in a loose, casual way, some are not even truly born again and that is going to be a curse for them as they are taking in an unworthy manner. We need to be serious before our Holy God as it was not easy for our beloved Savior to undergo a painful mocking crucifixion.

What is the meaning, cup of the Lord. Let us take from the Old Testament perspective. The Old Testament word for cup means כ֪וֹס (ḵō·ws).

Many times in the Old Testament word cup is related to God’s wrath due to the sins of the people and it’s a curse, many times wine is connected when you talk, the cup of God’s wrath.  In the N.T Jesus spoke of the bread and wine and the cup he is going to drink.

Jeremiah 25:15 Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

Isaiah 51:17 Wake yourself, wake yourself,

    stand up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

    the cup of his wrath,

who have drunk to the dregs

    the bowl, the cup of staggering.

There are many more scriptures in the Old Testament.

In Luke chapter 22 before the crucifixion, Jesus went to Mount of Olives to pray, as his soul was exceeding sorrowful.

Luke 22:42-44 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground

We need to understand God is above suffering, will not experience suffering, Jesus although he was God became a man and experienced hardship, now he is going to experience the most painful suffering on behalf of the believing sinners.

He was going to drink the cup of God’s wrath, all the sins were poured into a concentrated cup, Jesus in his prayer asked the Father is there another way as he knew how painful the mocking and crucifixion was, but subjected to the Father’s will.

Our sins were so heavy that it pressed his soul and his sweat turned into blood. What a prayer! He placed his lips and emptied down to the last drop, the cup of God’s wrath has been emptied to the last drop, what is the outcome?

We deserved the cup of God’s wrath, however, Jesus took the wine of the cup, the cup of God’s wrath on behalf of the believing sinner. Now God’s wrath will not come to the true believing Christian.  See how Jesus loved us!

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

There is the cup of blessing now, filled with peace, justification, forgiveness.

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!