Saying Yes to Jesus?

Jesus asked his two most eager disciples whether they could drink his cup and bear his baptism. What did he mean? When Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan it was not for his personal need for repentance - it was more an identification with sin and sinners. This identification was total and meant that he went to the cross and to death for the penalty of that sin - your sin and my sin. This was his baptism - to bear our sin. His cup was a fulfillment of prophesy that spoke of the judgement of sin - a cup of wrath to be drained by all who lived wickedly and injustly.

Could you drink Jesus' cup and bear his baptism? The disciples thought they could and Jesus even said they could. I am sure that Jesus was NOT saying that we too bear the sins of the whole world and personally take the wrath of God against wickedness. However, He is saying that the way of righteousness will be costly and there will be persecution. The way to glory will involve indentification with suffering and tasting the gall of judgment. Jesus was offered shortcuts to glory and so will we. We have been saved because he did it the costly way. May we love others and go the same way.