Take This Cup (46 page)
My mother sang as the loom boomed like a drum:
“He is pure,
he is unique,
he is powerful,
he is wise,
he is King.”
In my white robe, I stood at attention behind Jesus’ seat, Joseph’s chalice in my hands. My heart pounded with excitement as I heard the door open.
My mother continued with great joy:
“He is awesome,
he is Redeemer!
He is righteous!”
I tried to remember all the rituals of the Passover cup I had been taught. I stammered as I rehearsed what I had learned about the chalice of the Messiah. Would I be worthy when the moment came? Would I remember to say and do what I was supposed to do?
Mama’s lilting voice added:
“Take this cup,
the cup of sanctification.
Take this cup.
I will bring you out of bondage.
Take this cup.
I will deliver you.
Take this cup.
I have redeemed you!”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I realized the moment I had longed for was at last upon me. The ancient silver chalice, which had held so much suffering and pain, was polished like new inside and out. Jesus would soon stretch out his hands to take the cup, drink from it, and then offer it back for all to drink who came to his table.
Everything fled from my mind as I heard the bell above the door, and Jesus entered the House of Prayer.
Mama announced his arrival in song.
“He is the Omnipotent God!
Rebuild! God, rebuild your house soon!”
I heard Jesus greet my family downstairs: “
Shalom! Shalom!
Thank you for taking me in. Well done, good and faithful friends.”
And then . . . I heard his footsteps on the stairs!
My mother sang,
“He is holy.
He is compassionate.
He is all righteous!
Oh, God,
rebuild your house soon!”
I
was only nine that evening as I sat on the stairs leading to the upper room where Jesus ate with his disciples. Judas, the betrayer, stood and stumbled out, almost tripping over me as he fled from the light into the darkness.
After the door slammed, I heard Jesus speak the words we later learned by heart.
Some believe he was addressing his followers, but I am certain Jesus spoke the first words directly to his Father.
The eyes of the Son raised heavenward and fixed on a throne, a holy altar, on mighty, outstretched hands that had governed galaxies and worlds, and ordained kingdoms and the lives of men and angels. “Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the universe who created this fruit of the vine I offer to you.”
Jesus reached higher, stretching upward, until the chalice penetrated heaven. “Take this cup.” He spoke with tenderness to his loving Father.
All time stood still in that moment. There was no time, no day or night, only eternity. The walls and ceiling of the chamber dissolved, and suddenly I saw the faces of all who had lived before and multitudes who would live in years to come. They gathered with us around the table, waiting eagerly to drink from the silver cup Jesus offered.
All who called on the Name of Jesus were brought together in that moment, in that place forever and ever.
Jesus offered the cup to all. “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
1
The chalice floated from hand to hand, and the precious contents were shared by all—first by Jesus’ closest friends and then passed along.
I reached eagerly for it and looked deeply into the red wine. Again I saw my own reflection in the mirror of liquid. I was no longer a boy, but a man grown strong and courageous. I raised the cup to my lips and whispered, “Amen.” I tasted the wine, closed my eyes, and smiled.
I found myself watching the flocks on a distant mountain illuminated by a golden light. The Great White Hart stood beside me. Eden restored. Not of this earth, I knew.
Not of this time.
I passed the chalice to another. I did not know who took it from my hand.
I heard Jesus’ mother begin to sing,
“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.”
2
All of us lining the stairs and those who supped in the room below joined in Mary’s song.
“For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
What shall I return to the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call upon the name of the LORD.”
3
When all in the house had tasted from it, the empty cup returned to me. I held it close to my heart as if embracing an old friend. We had traveled many miles together to this holy moment and to this room where past and future became one eternal present.
Was I still to be cupbearer to the King? I peered over the top step. Tears misted my eyes as Jesus stood and wrapped himself in his seamless robe. He held me gently in his gaze for a long moment and nodded.
I wrapped the cup in my cloak.
“Come,” he said, “follow me. The moment is at hand. We will go now to the Mount of Olives and pray.”
Thus the first part of my journey came to an end.
But, in truth, it was only the beginning.
1
. Psalm 42:1, adapted from NIV
1
. Psalm 42:1, adapted from NIV
2
. See Matthew 24:27.
1
. Psalm 23:1–2 ESV
2
. Psalm 23:3 ESV
3
. Psalm 23:4 ESV
1
. Numbers 24:17 ESV
2
. Isaiah 7:14 ESV
1
. Esther 7:2
2
. Read the story in Genesis chapters 37 and 39 through 45.
1
. Luke 2:35, adapted from NIV
2
. Deuteronomy 6:4
1
. Psalm 91:1, 13
1
. Psalm 91:13
2
. Psalm 91:1
3
. Psalm 50:15
4
. Psalm 72:13
5
. Proverbs 20:13
6
. Isaiah 55:1
1
. Psalm 42:1, adapted from NIV
2
. See Genesis 50:20.
1
. Genesis 12:1 KJV
2
. Isaiah 40:26 KJV
3
. Isaiah 40:31 KJV
1
. Malachi 1:6, adapted from ESV
1
. Isaiah 49:6 ESV
1
. Isaiah 61:1
2
. Isaiah 53:5
1
. Matthew 12:39 ESV
1
. John 12:35–36
1
. Luke 16:19–31, adapted from multiple versions
2
. Jeremiah 1:4–8, adapted from NIV
3
. Exodus 3:5
1
. Matthew 18:6–7, adapted from multiple versions
2
. See Matthew 18:21–22.
3
. Luke 17:6
1
. See Luke 17:11–19.
2
. See Psalm 91:11.
3
. Luke 17:20–21, adapted from NIV and NKJV
4
. Luke 17:22–36, adapted from NIV
5
. Psalm 91:3–4, adapted from NIV
1
. Luke 18:9–14, adapted from NIV and NKJV
2
. See Luke 18:16–17.
3
. Luke 18:18–30, adapted from NKJV
4
. Luke 18:31–33, adapted from NIV
5
. Psalm 75:8, adapted from NIV and NKJV
6
. Isaiah 51:22 ESV
7
. Isaiah 53:2 NKJV
8
. Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
9
. Isaiah 53:6, 10 NKJV
10
. Isaiah 53:12 NKJV
1
. Psalm 105:1–2
2
. Psalm 105:8–10
3
. Matthew 21:13 NKJV
1
. Matthew 21:16, adapted from NIV
2
. Isaiah 53:1
3
. John 12:40
1
. Read the story in Matthew 21:33–44.
2
. Psalm 118:22–23, as quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42
3
. Read the story in John 12:25–36.
1
. See the prophecy in Hosea 11:1.
2
. Genesis 3:17–18
3
. Matthew 23:23–24, adapted from NIV
4
. Matthew 23:25–26, adapted from NIV
5
. Matthew 23:27–28, adapted from NIV
6
. Matthew 23:29–36, adapted from NIV
7
. Matthew 23:37–39, adapted from NIV
8
. Matthew 24:2, adapted from NIV
9
. Read the story in Matthew 24:3–14.
10
. Matthew 24:29–31, 33–43, adapted from NIV
11
. Matthew 25:31–40, adapted from NIV
12
. Matthew 26:1–2, adapted from NIV
1
. Matthew 26:27–29
2
. Psalm 116:1–2
3
. Psalm 116:8–9, 12–13
J
esus clearly believed in the power of stories. He told parables—stories—to stretch the minds and transform the hearts of his listeners. We, too, believe in the life-changing power of stories, and that’s why we’re passionate about writing fiction.
In every work of our fiction, there is truth, based on research, and there is imagination, based on our minds and perspectives. We weren’t here on this earth as Jesus walked among the people, but through the verses of Scripture and our imagination, we have portrayed to the best of our ability what he might have said and the way in which he might have said it.
Take
This
Cup
is how we imagine the events might have happened for young Nehemiah and his family, for Joseph of Arimathea, for the Sparrows of Jerusalem, for the boy Hallelujah, and for all the other characters in this story whose lives, bodies, and hearts were transformed by Jesus. It also traces the path of the legend of the Holy Grail and how we imagine the cup might have passed through the hands of ordinary people, such as Nehemiah, changing their hearts and life paths.
There are many legends about Joseph of Arimathea, the wealthy Jewish man who asked for permission to bury Jesus’ body properly after his death. It is said he used the Holy Grail—the cup that Jesus used during the Last Supper—to collect Jesus’
blood while he was being crucified. Then, afterward, it is said that Joseph traveled to England, bringing the cup with him. Which of the legends are true, and which are just stories? None of us is likely to know until we enter the realm of heaven, where the desires of our hearts will be met and our questions answered.