Redemption Cup & the Cup of Trembling
Jesus took a cup… saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-27
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:2
Photograph by Sheryl Dawson, March, 2024 The Cup of Trembling
Summary: The Christian Communion cup remembers the salvation of Jesus through His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus instituted Communion at the Passover Sader meal or last supper with His disciples. This connection with Passover is all but forgotten by Christians because of antisemitism throughout church history. This article reveals the importance of the Jewish roots of Christianity and reflects on the current circumstances of global antisemitism against Jews around the world and Israel prophesied as a “cup of trembling” to the nations. Christians, churches, and nations are admonished to bless Israel and be blessed, to partake of the cup of redemption not the cup of trembling.
The traditional Jewish celebration of Passover remembers the Exodus from Egypt when Moses led the Hebrews out of bondage and into the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. After nine plagues failed to persuade Pharaoh to release the Hebrew people, the Lord sent a tenth plague that took the lives of first-born sons. Moses instructed the Hebrew people to roast a lamb and place the blood on the door posts and lintel beam to spare their families from the plague. A foreshadowing of the coming Messiah’s (Yeshua’s) crucifixion centuries later (prophesied in Isaiah 53), Passover coincides today with the Christian celebration of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. All people, both Jew and Gentile are saved by the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God (John 1:29). This second exodus leads those who repent and accept Jesus’ sacrifice to eternal life in heaven, God’s promised kingdom.
Roman Easter, Severed Jewish Roots & Consequences
It was not until the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD that Jesus’ Resurrection Day became known as Easter. The name refers to Ishtar, a pagan goddess of fertility to whom babies were sacrificed; leading to the holiday’s association with rabbits and colored eggs. This paganization of the most holy day of the Christian faith was instituted to remove the Jewish connection since antisemitism was pervasive and to popularize the new religion among Romans.
While Ishtar is but a myth today, modern society has created its own goddess to which babies are aborted in the womb — the idol of convenience and self-indulgence. Jonathan Cahn in The Return of the Gods posits that the ancient pagan gods or spirits have returned in a new form, but with the same result – the rejection of the God of the Bible and His commandments. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up your cross daily and follow me.” As a nation America has fallen away from Biblical precepts and the gospel of the cross. Like the ancient Romans, many Christians have compromised their faith abandoning the God-given Hebrew law to choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19) For decades Cahn has warned America of coming judgement for turning from Godly values, drawing parallels with Israel’s judgements throughout history when they followed pagan practices. He calls for the church and nation to repent and return to God.
Christian opposition to Hebrew law is evident in the composition of the New Testament canon of the apostles’ writings and naming of the Jewish Tanakh as books the Old Testament by the Council of Nicaea. Many teachers and preachers in the church today claim the Old Testament is no longer relevant. Of course, this includes the Torah or first five books of the Bible thus undermining the Genesis creation account and importance of the ten commandments; such teaching ignores the prophetic books anticipating Messiah’s first and second comings. This apostacy in the church was prophesied for end times. (II Timothy 3)
The Council of Nicaea also changed the day of the week for worship from the Sabbath to Sunday, further severing Christianity from its Jewish roots. Selecting the solstice to celebrate Jesus’ birth further distanced Christians from Jewish tradition since it was associated with the Roman sun god. Today, most Christians are unaware of these synchronizations with pagan practices. (see Sheep Nations by Dominiquae Bierman)
God’s Prophetic Plan of Redemption
Most Christians also are unaware of the importance of their Jewish roots and of modern Israel in God’s plan of salvation. Since the diaspora of the Jews in 70 A.D., the separation of Christians from their Jewish roots has been widened by Gentile Christians’ accusation against Jews as Christ killers, as well as the Rabbinical codifying of Judaism and rejection of Jesus as Messiah among Jews.
The antisemitism of the Romans became embedded in the church’s false teaching of Replacement Theology which holds that the church replaced the Jewish people and nation in God’s plan. This apostate theology led to the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, pogroms, or riots fomented to expel Jews in Russia and other countries, and the Holocaust.
Church Grafted into the Olive Tree
Paul refutes this erroneous teaching in Romans 11 revealing that Gentile Christians are grafted into the Jewish olive tree and its ancient roots. In truth, Christians should join with their Jewish friends in celebrating the Passover for it was through the Jewish people that God gave us the Bible, His Word (John 1:1), and salvation! Jesus celebrated His last Passover meal the night Judas betrayed Him to the religious leaders; it was then that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Communion of broken bread and wine representing His forthcoming crucifixion and resurrection. The connection to the Passover meal is not accidental, but intentional to show both Jew and Gentile that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah for all humankind. Indeed, it was the third cup of the Passover Seder meal representing redemption that Jesus offered to His disciples to remember Him until He comes again. (Matthew 26:26-29) As the blood of the Passover Lamb covered the Israelites in Egypt, so the blood of Jesus covers Jewish and Gentile believers today!
Signs of the Times
After the crucifixion and resurrection Jesus’ disciples painfully understood His mysterious actions and words. Jesus appeared to five hundred disciples and followers in several encounters to confirm His resurrection before He ascended to heaven. Jesus promised to return, and Christians anticipate His second coming at any time; the signs of the times Jesus described in Matthew 24 and echoed in many Old and New Testament prophecies are evident to all who watch and faithfully expect His return.
Israel Reborn in a Day
Fulfillment of the prophecies for the rebirth of the Jewish nation after nearly 2000 years (Ezekiel 37) was accomplished after WWII on May 14, 1948. Since then, Israel has faced its Arab enemies many times and miraculously survived. This too is the promise of God fulfilled. Christians who deny God’s eternal covenant with the Jewish nation and people are denying the unending promise of God to Abraham and his descendants through Issac: Genesis 17
The Ancient Hatred
For decades governments of the West, the UN and EU have sought to divide the land of Israel against the will of God (Psalm 83:4) to create an Arab state of Palestine. Yet, the Palestinian refugees were displaced by the Arab nations who declared war on infant Israel in 1948! When they lost the war, the Arab nations would not allow these Arab refugees to assimilate into their states, but rather held them in camps as a political weapon against Israel. This ongoing war to destroy the Jewish nation “from the river to the sea” is another form of the ancient antisemitism. The roots of this hatred go back to Abraham’s two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. (Genesis 21:9)
Cup of Trembling
The Bible prophesies that all nations will come against the nation of Israel, and today we are witnessing the prelude to fulfillment of the prophetic cup of trembling! (Zechariah 12:2) Some versions of the Bible translate this as a cup of reeling and drunkenness to the nations. While many Americans and the US government claim to support Israel, the cry against Israel’s current battle to destroy Hamas intensifies globally. This too is a form of antisemitism. Eric Metaxas in Letter to the American Church, book and documentary (free church screenings available), calls on the church to stand against increasing antisemitism, as well as declining Biblical values and to shake off the complacency reminiscent of the German church during the rise of Hitler and his persecution and genocide of the Jews.
Jordan and Egypt deny access by Gazan Palestinians keeping them trapped in the battlefield and used as shields by the brutal Hamas who value death rather than life. The Shiite Muslim nation of Iran, while Persian, is the puppet master funding the Arab proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, Syrian militias, and the Houthis. Recently allied with Russia, Turkey, and China for the first time in history, Iran is a lynch pin in prophetic end time fulfillment. (See Bible prophecy overview of Middle East wars Looking Back 2023 and Forward 2024 by Bill Salas)
Bless Israel and Be Blessed
The ancient hatred of the Jewish people and nation has been amplified throughout history since the Garden of Eden when Satan sought to destroy God’s plan for all humankind. The only solution for Jew and Gentile, the church, and all nations is to accept God’s full redemptive plan. Bless Israel, and be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) Receive the salvation of Jesus and be transformed by His grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Acknowledge the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and unite in Jesus. (Romans 11:11-12) Support the Jewish people and pray for peace in Israel. (Psalm 122:6) End the unbiblical call to divide the land of Israel for establishment of a Palestinian state. (Joel 3:2, Ezekiel 47:14) Acknowledge and embrace the Biblical gospel plan for all Israel to be saved: Romans 11:25-32) This Passover and Resurrection Day, partake of the cup of redemption and not the cup of trembling! Praise the name above all names, Yeshua Hamashiach, the Jewish Messiah Jesus Christ! (Name Above All Names – Lyric video by Charity Gayle)
By Sheryl Dawson
Resurrection Day, 2024
www.CelebratingChrist.com
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